Green Mountain State Update
Election wins
Four LGBTQ candidates—three for city council and one for city school board—received the most votes in their local elections in Vermont when voters came out to the polls on March 1.
In Burlington, Progressive incumbent Joe Maggee led with 72 percent of the vote against Republican Christopher-Aaron Felker, according to VT Digger. Felker, who is also gay, came under criticism during the campaign for his anti-transgender views.
In Winooski, of the seven candidates seeking city council seats, Aurora Hurd and Thomas Renner finished first and second, respectively, VT Digger reports.
And in Rutland, Marybeth Lennox-Levi received the most votes of the eight candidates running for the city board of school commissioners, reports Seven Days VT.
All four candidates were endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund, which says, “This midterm election [year] is about enthusiasm. Voters across the country are excited—and determined—to elect candidates with diverse perspectives who instill messages of hope, acceptance and courage. This is just the beginning. The Rainbow Wave is stronger than ever.”
Updating Birth certificates
On April 6, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed a bill into law allowing Green Mountain State residents to amend their birth certificates to match their gender identity.
“Working to make our state more welcoming and inclusive for all must be a priority, and this is another important step towards that goal,” Gov. Scott wrote in a statement, where he also noted he was “happy to sign” the bill into law.
The bill, reports VT Digger, “will allow Vermonters to attest to their own gender identity, streamlining a process that currently involves doctors, judges and extensive documentation. The bill will also allow Vermonters to identify by a third gender marker, X, on their birth certificates, bringing Vermont in alignment with 14 other states and Washington, DC.”
LGBTQ Vermonters
A recent survey from the Williams Institute at the University of California—a leading research center on sexual orientation and gender ID law and public policy—found Vermont is the state with the seventh highest percentage of people identifying as LGBTQ in the country, according to Vermont’s independent online news site VT Digger.
In New England, only Massachusetts has more residents identifying as LGBTQ, coming in at number three on the Williams Institute survey. The other five US states with the greater percentage of people identifying as LGBTQ than Vermont are all on the West Coast, except for the District of Columbia, the survey finds.
Trans woman killed
Vermont State Police reported that Fern Feather, a 29-year-old transgender woman of Hinesburg, Vermont, was found on the roadside stabbed to death in Morristown on the morning of April 12.
“Prosecutors have charged Seth Brunell, 43, with second-degree murder in Feather’s death,” VT Digger reported. “Brunell, who was not known to have a fixed address, had been spending time with Feather before the killing, state police said.”
“Upon his arrest, Brunell told police that he had been defending himself after Feather “made a sexual advance and attacked him,” according to a Vermont State Police press release.” (Gay/trans panic defense was legally banned in Vermont as of last year.)
“We are heartbroken by the loss of one of our community members, Fern Feather. Fern brought such joy to so many who were honored to know her and we grieve the loss of their light in this world,” posted Pride Center of Vermont on their website.
The Pride Center held a vigil “to celebrate Fern’s life and honor trans joy” on April 16.
Student walkout
On March 11, Vermont students joined thousands of peers across the nation in a historically large LGBTQ+ youth led walkout. According to OutrightVT, the students were “protesting the recent wave of anti-LGBTQ+ actions that queer youth advocates say will further endanger a population already at elevated risk of bullying, violence and suicide.
“All students [were] strongly encouraged to participate, and adult supporters to stand in solidarity with youth. Outright Youth Organizers—a cohort of Vermont teens working with Outright Vermont to lead social justice initiatives in their communities—rapidly [mobilized] to support Vermont students’ participation in this national action. “
“By standing with youth in solidarity across the nation, adults can communicate clearly that they do not stand for hate, fear and misinformation about LGBTQ+ identities and realities,” says Outright Director of Organizing V Pearson.
Health Care equality
In late March, the Human Rights Campaign released their 15th annual Healthcare Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of policies and practices around inclusive and equitable treatment of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.
In Vermont, HRC lauded Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend and VA White River Junction Medical Center as “Top Performers.” They also recognized University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital for working with HRC as a survey participant and developing foundational policies of LGBTQ+ inclusion and equitability.
More: hrc.org
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
