Bennington Comes Out With Pride

Fledgling Groups Make Big Splash

      BENNINGTON - For the second year in a row, a gathering of enthusiastic LGBT citizens took over the four corners of downtown Bennington with colorful signs and slogans on National Coming Out Day on October 11.
       Last year, students from the local high school started the tradition, and the students were joined this year by members of the Bennington Pride Coalition, Bennington College students, and several allies.
        What seemed surprising to some of those joining the effort to increase visibility and defeat discrimination was the friendly reactions of those driving by. Many drivers honked their horns in support, an older woman on a passing bus waved, and one car paused briefly for a chat with demonstrators.
      Louise Webb of North Pownal stood with a sign on the chilly afternoon in support of her son, Aaron, who is active in the gay-straight alliance (GSA) at Mt. Anthony Union High School.
      "We both did it last year," Webb said, but since Aaron was working on this particular afternoon, she attended on his behalf.
      Taylor Hayes, age 7, of Bennington, stood with her aunt, Sandy Barnard of Readsboro. Both held colorful signs that were created at a potluck a few days before.
       Sandy repeated a phrase that Taylor said recently: "people that are gay aren't bad." Taylor then smiled at Sandy and said "'cause you're gay!" Sandy said she heard about the demonstration through mutual friends.
      "I think it's a very positive thing for the Bennington Area," she said.
       Breeanne Moffitt of Bennington joined the small crowd with a sign and smiled when an older man walking by said to "keep up the good work."
       Breeanne said there had been "a lot of positive reception ... it's really been nice." Last year Breeanne was searching for answers to some important personal issues and finally found a transgender site on the Internet that was helpful.
      "It's been so difficult without any answers at all ... Now I have friends that support and understand."
      Last year, Coming Out Day happened to fall on an in-service day for Bennington teachers, so students weren't able to celebrate that day in school, said Anja Pfeffer, faculty advisor of Glow-Up, the school's GSA. When she asked what students wanted to do instead, a couple of them suggested standing with signs at the four corners. After some hesitation, everyone agreed it was a good idea and four corners became the spot to celebrate Coming Out Day.
      Students had just organized Glow-Up (Gay, Lesbian or Whatever United People) a few weeks before, after much discussion with some parents and school board members who opposed their efforts as well as some who were supportive. That was in the fall of 2005. Eventually, Glow-Up was successful when the school board voted 5-4 to allow the group to continue.
      The same year, Bennington Pride Coalition (BPC) was getting on its feet with help from a Unity Project grant. Cynthia Himmel helped with grantwriting, and co-coordinators Sadelle Wiltshire and Ann Coakley have been working with other volunteers to get BPC going. Activities have included weekly gatherings at the local coffee shop, and organizing the well-attended performance of Peterson Toscano earlier this year.
      National Ally Week, October 15 to 21, was also celebrated in Bennington. Pfeffer said Glow-Up made pledges for allies of LGBT students to sign in an ongoing effort to reduce stigma and harassment in the schools.
      With other supporters, the students from Glow-Up and BPC, more and more LGBT residents are coming out of the closet and joining the growing community.
      Mark McCourt joined the ranks on the four corners with a sign and waved as cars went by. Last year on Coming Out Day, he drove past the Glow-Up students at the four corners, and thought the action was "incredibly brave and cool ... I wondered if I would have the guts to do something like that. So I'm pleased to have the opportunity to do this, this year, with this great group of people."