Editorial
Editorial
The Long and Short of It
Happy
20th Birthday to OITM! Twenty years is a long time for any publication
to survive, and for one that was begun, for a long time was staffed, and
is still sustained by volunteers, it's a lifetime.
In 1986, OITM reported it when K. Micque
Glitman introduced a bill in the legislature to prohibit discrimination
on the basis of "HTLV-3 antibody test results." Vermonters for
Lesbian and Gay Rights (VLGR) was soliciting support for the bill in our
first issue. Lesbians and gay men were holding separate caucus meetings
in Noble Hall of what was then Vermont College in Montpelier to discuss
whether and how they could work together and to choose the first community
liaisons to the governor's office (interim liaisons were Terje Anderson
and Beth Dingman). Peggy Luhrs wrote "Breaking the Taboo Against
Women Loving Women," and OITM reprinted an article I wrote for the
weekly Vanguard Press about the suicide of Dan White, the man
who murdered openly gay city Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco.
Also that year, Phyllis Schlafly came
to Vermont to oppose the state's own version of the Equal Rights Amendment,
Vermont Law School first banned military recruiters from campus because
of their discriminatory policies, Integrity (an organization of gay Episcopalians)
celebrated its eighth anniversary at St. Paul's in Burlington, and 500
people showed up for the "No Turning Back" Gay Pride rally and
march (at which Governor Madeleine Kunin and Mayor Bernie Sanders –
then a gubernatorial candidate – spoke). OITM surveyed statewide
candidates, and Deborah Kutzko (aka "Gooch") was hired as the
state's first AIDS coordinator. And in the December issue, OITM printed
the first of many fundraising appeals.
Some things change, and some things stay the same.
The long part of my tenure as editor is
that my four years here are a fifth of the paper’s existence. My
stint here began with controversy: the outgoing editor ran a photo montage
from the Drag Ball on the back page of the March 2002 issue that included
Yolanda with an outsized fake phallus. We got letters and subscription
revocations for months, some of them from men. I wrote two news stories
and an editorial for that "overlap" issue.
During these four years, I've written
261 articles (a handful of which were co-written): short and long, news,
features, profiles, and reviews. I've explained, exhorted, pled, argued,
celebrated, mourned, chastised, and pontificated in 36 editorials (the
other 12 were written by guest editorialists), 8 "Editor's Notebooks,"
and 8 "Squibs" columns. Together that's a total of over 300
pieces. We have published the work of literally hundreds of talented writers
who wrote as a labor of love for the paper and the community.
The short of these four years is how
fast they have gone by, from the panic and determination of the first
six months to my current confidence that our pages would be filled with
worthwhile and entertaining writing. Seven months after I became editor,
my dad died. It feels like a few months ago.
Over these years I have been privileged
to witness how our communities have grown – and grown together –
showing a maturity that allows all our groups to work together politically
and socially. Our communities and organizations have supported both the
newspaper as a whole and me personally as its editor with occasional praise,
growing trust, and rare but heartfelt criticism.
Likewise I could not have done
this job without the daily support of talented and committed colleagues:
OITM's first Operations Manager (and current webgoddess) Tania Kupczak
and her successor (also Advertising Manager) Michel DuBois; Art Directors
Pete Gershon and his successor Don Eggert; Assistant Editor Susan McMillan,
who cares as much as I do about the right and wrong of commas and clauses;
the unsung heroes of publishing, the sales staff (currently including
Roland Palmer and Miguel Bernard-Rivera); and Calendar Editors Sandy Reeks
and her successor Dan Brink. Finally, without the Board members who since
1995 raised the funds, kept the books, held the vision, talked the talk
and walked the walk, we would not exist at all. The Board currently includes
Ron Bernard, Shawn May, Dana Anderson, Brian Cote, Greg Weaver, and Tom
Fleury.
And now it is time to pass the torch,
to say goodbye in my official capacity, and to urge you all to offer your
support to incoming editor Lynn McNicol.
With gratitude and respect (and a certain amount of relief),
Euan
Bear,
Editor
OITM's
Future Is Yours
It's the start of a new year and the
beginning of a new decade for Out in the Mountains. Collectively,
we will all help determine what happens in our community and our world
this year, and in the next 10 years. In just a few short years, we have
almost gotten used to the idea of civil unions and gay marriage. So much
has happened, and in such a short period of time. What seemed impossible
came to be. I'm writing this on Martin Luther King Day, and think of King's
dream, and of the changes inspired by his words.
We all have dreams, no matter who
we are, what label we go by, what age we are. What seems impossible now
may someday seem almost ordinary – a world where every person in
his or her uniqueness is celebrated and free. This world will not be given
to us. It will take the involvement of every one of us to bring this future
about.
I hear that young people in our community are not so interested in the
right to marry; their priorities lie elsewhere. This paper fortunately
received a grant for the new Youth Project starting this year, providing
a platform for this new generation. As I am beginning in my new role as
editor at the same time, I am eager to learn what their dreams are, and
feel honored that I can take part in fostering the growth of this new
focus.
Three years ago, I came on board as a new
writer for Out in the Mountains with much encouragement and support
from Euan Bear.
In writing for OITM, I have met many wonderful people in our community
and learned more about the issues we face. As editor, I will miss working
with Euan in that role, and at the same time I look forward to being more
deeply involved in spreading the news that affects our community.
This is a year when many political choices
will be made that will no doubt affect us all. From the mayoral race in
Burlington to Congressional races in Vermont and other states to a new
Supreme Court justice, OITM will be watching closely.
There is also room in these pages
for humor and personal stories, and your take on sports, spirituality,
education, health and entertainment. I look forward to hearing from people
in all walks of life from all corners, to sharing your stories and wisdom
and dreams. Out in the Mountains, after all, is here so we can hear your
voice.
Lynn McNicol, Editor