Green Mountain State Update
Senate history-making
In late November, the Vermont Senate Democratic caucus unanimously nominated State Senator Becca Balint to be the upper chamber’s next pro tempore. This means that Sen. Balint will become both the first woman and first openly gay person to preside over the state senate in the absence of the lieutenant governor. Balint, of Windham, was previously the senate majority leader.
“I’m really honored to work on behalf of all of you and all Vermonters,” Balint said, as VT Digger reports. “I’ll work hard, as hard as I can, to build a strong team within the Senate, one that values the skills and the experiences we each bring.”
The caucus also nominated all women to the upcoming senate’s top leadership roles, choosing Sen. Alison Clarkson as new majority leader.
State’s first trans legislator
Taylor Small, a trans woman from Winooski and director of health and wellness at the Pride Center of Vermont, has become the first openly transgender person elected to the Vermont state legislature.
“It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, and I don’t know when it will,” Small told the Burlington Free Press right after the results came in. “I saw it more as a long-term goal. I didn’t see it happening at the age of 26.”
But, as the Free Press reported, “Happen it did. Small was elected Tuesday to the Vermont House of Representatives, where the Winooski resident will become the first openly transgender member of the state legislature.”
Small ran as both the state’s Progressive and Democratic party nominations. She represents the Chittenden 6-7 district, which has two seats, with Democrat Hal Colston elected into the district’s other seat.
More Nov. 3 winners
Congrats, too, to out, proud Vermont election winners incumbent State Reps Brian Cina (Chittenden 6-4), Kathleen James (Bennington-4) and William (Bill) Lippert Jr. (Chittenden 4-2).
New hire at Pride Center
Pride Center of Vermont has created a new position and hired Phoebe Zorn, a sixth generation Vermonter, to take it on.
As the Center’s new operations coordinator, Zorn will oversee daily operations and administration of programs and services at Pride Center of Vermont.
“We need to shift how we operate during a global pandemic in order to raise the funds to support our mission, programs, and community through this challenging landscape. This position allows us to do just that,” said Mike Bensel, executive director. “We are delighted to have Phoebe join our amazing team and are confident she will thrive in this new role.”
Zorn, notes a recent release, worked with the Center most recently as performing arts center coordinator at Main Street Landing in Burlington, where she assisted coordinating events between the two orgs such as the ACLU film screening of Trans in America for 2019’s Pride celebrations.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Pride Center of Vermont,” said Zorn. “I’m really looking forward to leveraging my organizational and coordination experience to help serve the LGBTQ+ communities of Vermont.”
Neighbor to Neighbor
The Momentum program at Pride Center of Vermont is seeking volunteers. Momentum is an LGBTQ+ oriented social group for folks age 40 and up, and they’re looking for reliable and ready volunteers to help service Vermont’s LGBTQ+ aging population, through a new community assistance opportunity, Neighbor to Neighbor.
This community outreach program will connect older LGBTQ+ community members around Vermont through need-based support services that aid those seeking social connections and assistance with essential tasks.
If interested, send an email to paula@pridecentervt.org. For more, go to pridecentervt.org and click on Programs.
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