Green Mountain State Update
A Historic confirmation
In a historic vote, the US confirmed Vermont Supreme Court Justice Beth Robinson to sit on the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which hears cases from Vermont, Connecticut and New York. The Senate vote was 51-45.
When Justice Robinson takes the bench, she will be the first openly LGBTQ women to serve on a US federal appellate court. President Biden nominated Robinson for the job in August 2021 and the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination in October.
“More than qualified, Justice Robinson has built a distinguished career based on impartiality and fair application of the law,” he said. “She treats people with respect and compassion, and understands the duty of the court to provide equitable justice,” said Senator Bernie Sanders in a statement.
In another statement coming shortly after the vote, Lt. Gov. Molly Gray said, “For me, and so many Vermonters and Vermont women in the legal profession, Justice Robinson’s pioneering work has been inspiring,” Gray said. “She has been a champion for civil rights and marriage equality and will serve our country, and justice system, well,” and she called the confirmation “a historic step in building a judicial system that represents all of us.”
Homecoming halftime drag show
Burlington High School in Vermont came out in support of the LGBTQ+ community this past fall by hosting a halftime drag show at its annual homecoming football game. By all accounts, it was a crowd pleaser, with students in the stands sporting rainbow colors and flags, and the home team, the Seawolves, winning over St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers by 35-14.
The home team includes players from Burlington, Winooski and South Burlington high schools. Students from South Burlington BHS Gender-Sexuality Alliances, student athletes, allies, faculty and staff put on the show, according to a pre-game article in VTDigger.
“High-contact sports can sometimes have this warrior ethos to them, so I think it’s wonderful to have the juxtaposition of having another perspective of what’s traditionally been effeminate,” Burlington High English teacher Andrew LeValley, an advisor for the school’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA), told VTDigger.
Pride flag over schools office
In early November, the Pride flag was raised over the central office of the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, the governing organization for the Bennington, Mount Anthony, Pownal, Shaftsbury and Woodford school districts. At a special event at the base of the flagpole, staff, stufents and member of the community gathered to hear speakers help kick off SVSU’s yearlong theme of “equity.”
“My hope is that in this simple symbol, the LGBTQ+, staff and students know they have the support of the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, because they unequivocally do,” Superintendent James Culkeen told the gathering, as reported in the Bennington Banner. “The theme for the SVSU this year is equity. We are committed to acting on that. And this is just the beginning. It’s the raising of a symbol. But we don’t stop there.”
“By Superintendent Culkeen embracing our year of equity, saying that all LGBTQ members of our school community have the support of the SVSU, I feel encouraged and eager for real change to happen here,” SVSU public information coordinator Katie West told the Banner. “The inclusivity we are promoting here today and always is one of intersectionality. Our trans and gender-nonconforming community members are just as welcome here, as are people of color. Inclusivity and equity are nothing without true intersectionality.”
Pride Center-Just Food partnership
Pride Center of Vermont is partnering with Just Food Hub to promote healthy food options and benefit Pride Center programming.
For every item bought from Just Food Hub, 30 percent of the sales go to Pride Center. Here’s how it works: go to the Pride Center fundraiser page (thepridecenter.justfoodhub.us), shop for your items, select your mailing option and pay.
Just Food Hub is a voluntary group raising awareness of quality organic and fair-trade food sourced from local producers. Their mission is to support community groups through regular fundraising.
