BURLINGTON - One thing independent U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders and Republicans Rich Tarrant and Greg Parke do agree on is that the race to replace James Jeffords (I) in the U.S. Senate is the most important race facing Vermonters this year. While all three hope to replace Jeffords in Washington DC, they differ on many issues of concern to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Vermonters.
       Independent Bernie Sanders has represented Vermont in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991. Prior to his election to Congress, he was the mayor of Burlington.
       In Congress, Sanders garnered 100% positive ratings from the Washington DC-based Human Rights Campaign, and a 100% rating from the AIDS Action Council. His office maintains a written nondiscrimination policy including sexual orientation, he is a sponsor of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), and he voted against the antigay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
        Sanders told In Newsweekly he opposes efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit gay marriage through the Federal Marriage Amendment.
       “I am certainly going to vote against the constitutional amendment that President Bush is proposing,” he said. “I think what this does is instill discrimination in our constitution which is certainly something we don’t want to do.”
        For Sanders, the key issue in this race is who sets the legislative agenda in Washington DC.
       “Leadership plays a huge role in determining the agenda and priorities of the Congress,” he said.
       “The most important vote that members of the House and Senate deal with is not health care, not the environment, not gay rights, and not the war in Iraq,” Sanders added. “The most important vote is the very first vote you cast to determine which political party controls each body. And when you vote for the Republican leadership in the Senate, you are voting for the most reactionary leadership in the modern history of the United States of America. There is no debate that one of the Republican’s major wedge issues is homophobia.
       They think they can deflect attention away from the war in Iraq, away from the decline of the middle class, the disintegration of our health care system, and all the other important issues that impact Americans.”
      If elected, Sanders promises to support the Democratic Party’s leadership.
      Sanders will face either IDX cofounder Rich Tarrant or retired air force pilot Greg Parke, both Republicans.
      In an interview with In Newsweekly, Tarrant cited his positions on “health care, better jobs, less partisan hatred in Washington, and education” as reasons gay and lesbian Vermonters should support him.
      “What’s important to me is getting things done,” Tarrant said.
      “Ideology isn’t important to me.” While Tarrant said he would cosponsor ENDA and opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment, he conceded he is not familiar with the unique concerns of gay and lesbian Americans.
      “I would have to look at, consider, and make sure I understood the bills,” he said when asked about gay-friendly legislation. “I’m very hesitant to comment on specific bills before I read them and understand both sides.”
      As the father of two adopted children, Tarrant said he supports adoption by gay and lesbian couples.
       “As long as love is there for the kid, that’s what matters,” he said.
       As a Republican, Tarrant believes he can best serve gay and lesbian Vermonters as a moderate voice within the GOP.
     “I’ve always felt that someone like me who is willing to push back on my own party can be more effective in getting to the table with logical arguments than someone who is on the other side throwing rocks,” he said. “I’ll push back.”
      Republican Greg Parke is a social conservative who does not support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality. “I don’t believe in giving people special rights to flaunt their sexuality,” Parke told In Newsweekly. “Sexuality has a certain place in society. It belongs in the privacy of one’s home, period.”
      Parke opposes civil unions, calling them “marriage by another name.” He also said he supports the Federal Marriage Amendment.
      “Our government should be promoting that which is best for children, and every study out there shows that the best environment for a child is one with a father and a mother,” he said. “When we look at where (gay marriage) has happened, the institution of marriage becomes cheapened and hurts families in general.”
      Rich Tarrant and Greg Parke will face off in the Republican primary on September 12. The winner of that contest will face U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders in November.

Paul Olsen is the Vermont Correspondent for Boston’s In Newsweekly.