Letters to the Editor
HIV
Complacency in L.A.
Regarding the story that recently appeared in the Burlington Free Press
on Oct. 1, 2006 about HIV targeting complacent gay men, only a portion
of that story appeared in the Free Press. What the article did not say
is that the story was based all on Los Angeles statistics, not on the
state of Vermont. Making such a broad statement without saying that where
facts were taken from is not telling the whole story.
It has been my experience as a gay
man that is very involved in the Vermont-New Hampshire area, that gay
men are very involved in helping stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.
In the future, I hope that the Free
Press would print about HIV stories here in Vermont, not in Los Angeles.
What happens in Vermont is just as important as what happens in Los Angeles,
considering that paper is based in Burlington, Vermont.
A story like the 20th AIDS Walk that
happened on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006 in City Park in Burlington would
have been welcome. There were no photographers and not one story in the
paper about this event. If they had been there, they would have seen lots
of gay college students from the University of Vermont, and others, raising
money to help fund local AIDS service organizations such as Vermont CARES.
They should have run this in the paper instead of the Los Angeles story.
Man Living with HIV for 18 Years
Support for Jason Lorber
It's been only a couple of months since I was executive director of R.U.1.2?
Community Center and I have to say that it's fun to come back to the Center
as a participant in activities like the Craft Clique and the Leather Club.
It's great to see the changes happening with Kara DeLeonardis at the helm
and so many amazing new (and old!) staff people and volunteers. But one
of the best perks of not being executive director is that I can feel free
to speak my mind and not worry about mixing politics with R.U.1.2?'s nonprofit
status.
I'm excited to write this letter in support
of re-electing Rep. Jason P. Lorber to the district representing the Old
North End and R.U.1.2? Community Center.
Jason, as many of you know, has been an
amazing, outspoken, and effective advocate for the LGBTQ community. Throughout
his first term he worked tirelessly for our communities and in support
of the people accessing services at the Community Center. He personally
lobbied more than 100 legislators for the Transgender Anti-Discrimination
Bill. He performed at fundraisers for R.U.1.2?, SafeSpace, Outright Vermont,
and other nonprofits. He donates many hours of time to our community's
organizations. And he's become a fixture in our community.
I urge members of our community to consider
donating two hours of your time to help him get re-elected (and hopefully
by a landslide). His contact information is at www.friendsofjason.org.
Let's send a clear message that we support those who support us.
Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup
Hinesburg
The Governor Who Could Have
Governor Jim Douglas will be remembered as "the governor who could
have." He could have locked in hydropower at 6 to 7 cents a kilowatt
hour with the purchase of the Pacific Gen dams on the Connecticut. Instead,
his attitude toward meeting Vermont's energy needs has been "wait
and pray:" Wait until the present contracts run out, and pray for
beneficial terms under the new ones. He could have saved Vermont's oldest
and sickest people from spending tens of thousands of dollars, but instead
stalled for two years on the purchase of medicines in Canada.
He could have prevented Vermont from losing
in this year alone $148 million, but instead ignored the Bush Administration
fiscal and monetary irresponsibility that would cause it. He could have
been known as the man who made health coverage affordable for all Vermonters,
but instead has kept himself in bondage to the health insurance industry.
He could have seen how bio-gas generation would make farming more profitable,
but instead chose to focus on the wedge issues suggested by the Republican
National Committee.
Scudder Parker, on the other hand, worked
to revive and promote biogas generation on Vermont farms. He understands
the value of and need for solar, wind power and hydropower generation
in the state. He has pledged to work for health insurance that does not
depend on one's employment. He recognizes the evil perpetrated by the
pharmas in the Medicare Part D legislation. He has forthrightly condemned
the Bush Administration policies that affect our ability to hire extra
police, fund vocational-technical education and many other services that
provide for quality of life in Vermont. I hope that your readers will
consider the difference when they go to the polls.
Chuck Gregory
Springfield
OITM
is Object of Tarrant Campaign
Several dozen anti-Rep. Bernie Sanders pro-Rich Tarrant letters have arrived
in our mailbox over the past six or eight months. These letters - none
of them addressing any LGBT-specific issues - appear to be the result
of a letter-writing campaign from Sanders' Republican opponent. Though
the letters don't seem to have much of anything to do with our community,
apparently the writers think we're important enough to send us their letters.
So, below is a representative sample of three.
Put a Roof on Property Taxes
I recently received one of the pamphlets that the Tarrant campaign has
been handing out stating "put a roof on property taxes." I think
it's important that we consider the things that Tarrant proposes to do
for Vermonters. This is a man who has proven to have a great work ethic.
He also realizes it is important to hear what Vermonters have to say,
hence his traveling across the state hosting many spaghetti dinners.
As long as Tarrant wants to take the issues
that are significant in the eyes of the public, and combine those with
his initiative to work hard, I think we have a great candidate for U.S.
Senator. I am excited to hear what else Tarrant has to say along the campaign
trail, and I encourage voters to take the time and listen to what he has
to say.
Pat O'Connor
Jericho
Bash for Cash ... Except Bernie
I recently attended the Bash for Cash affair at Higher Ground in South
Burlington. It was a fundraiser for Moss Point High School in Alabama
so they could hold a Senior Prom. This was a necessity because of Katrina.
It was one of the most attended events at Higher Ground.
Rich and Amy Tarrant donated $1,000 to the
cause. It really helped make the fundraiser successful. Was Rep. Bernie
Sanders a contributor to the fundraiser? The answer is simple. Bernie,
who continually cries poverty, is now a millionaire. With his $160,000
paycheck and his wife's salary as a college president, puts him in the
top salary class. He is the person he always knocks for getting the big
tax deduction that supposedly leaves the middle class broke and yet Bernie
does not make contributions to worthy causes. If the government won't
pay the money, Bernie won't give it. Bernie, please release your charitable
contributions so we all know where your heart, and your mouth, really
is.
Richard Guest
Winooski
Keep Up the Good Work
By now, most of us have seen Rich Tarrant's TV commercials. I think they
are a great way to tell voters about Rich. These ads are to introduce
Rich and his story so that they have an idea of where this man came from
and what he has accomplished over the years. At the same time, Rich is
traveling around the state to meet voters personally - the ads are just
one piece of the campaign.
Through his entrepreneurship and philanthropy,
Rich Tarrant has done more for Vermont and the people of this great state
than any other single person that has come along during my lifetime. Keep
up the great work Rich and thank you for running!
Denise Perras
Salisbury
Corrections
Craig Bailey took the photo of Thomas DeFrantz on page 20 (Oct. OITM).
Also, we somehow managed to misspell
Liza Cowan's name on page 21 of the same issue; and photographer Dok Wright's
name was misspelled on page 12.