Green Mountain State Update
Fire Truck Pull 2024
Outright Vermont’s annual Fire Truck Pull Fundraiser rolled back onto Church Street and surpassed their ambitious goal to raise $200K toward the nonprofit’s mission to support youth, educators and families build a “strong and connected community where LGBTQ+ youth can thrive.”
The Sept. 28 event kicked off with a family-friendly block party full of music, fun and plenty of “queer joy” before the big event began at the top of Church Street in Burlington. Teams raised money across the state with those who “pulled in” more than $3K invited to haul the fully loaded fire truck up Church Street.
Says Outright Vermont, “Vermont’s LGBTQ+ youth are taking heat from all sides, facing escalating attacks on their basic rights to live authentically in their communities. As you know, we have seen increased activity by anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups in Vermont in recent years, so it is especially critical that they know you have their backs.”
More: outrightvt.org
Gender-affirming care
The People’s Health & Wellness Clinic in Barre, Vermont, is partnering with the Rainbow Bridge Community Center to launch free gender-affirming care services to all residents age 18 and older. The goal is to make health care more accessible to their clients regardless of income or insurance, according to a press release. The free care is funded by a United Way grant.
“As a trans person and a leader in my queer community, it’s incredibly important that gender affirming care is available and accessible,” said Rainbow Bridge Executive Director Shawna Trader, also a client of People’s Health & Wellness. “We’ll have healthier and safer people out there just knowing that there’s a spot here in town that they can go to.”
More: phwcvt.org
Primary wins
Vermont held its primary election for statewide officials and Congressional candidates Tuesday, and 15 openly LGBTQ+ candidates won their races and now move on to the Nov. 5 election.
After yesterday’s results, US Congresswoman Becca Balint (D, Incumbent) advanced from the primary. In 2022, Balint became the first woman and first openly LGBTQ US Congress member from the Green Mountain State. Previously, in 2021, she became the first female openly gay person and first woman sworn in as state Senate president pro tempore.
State Treasurer Mike Pieciak (D, Incumbent) also advanced from the primary.
Winning their primary elections in the State Senate are Tanya Vyhovsky (D, Incumbent, Chittenden Central) and Becca White (D, Incumbent) Windsor. From 2019 to 2022, White also served in the state’s house.
Winning primary elections in the State’s House are Tiff Bluemle (D, Incumbent Chittenden 13); Brian Cina (Progressive Party, Incumbent, Chittenden 15); Mari Cordes (D, Incumbent, Addison); William Greer (D, Bennington 2); Kathleen James (Progressive Party, Incumbent, Bennington 4); Emilie Kornheiser (D, Incumbent, Windham 7; Saudia LaMont (D, Incumbent, Lamoille-Washington District; Josie Leavitt (D, Incumbent, Grand Isle-Chittenden); Mike Rice (D, Incumbent, Bennington-Rutland); Mary-Katherine Stone (D, Incumbent, Chittenden-14); and Heather Surprenant (D, Incumbent, Windsor 4).
Burlington Pride
Thousands gathered in downtown Burlington for the 41st annual Pride parade and festival, organized by the Pride Center of Vermont, in early September. City officials called it one of the city’s biggest events, estimating the number at approximately 5,000.
“Around Vermont, we don’t have too many events like this, so it’s really special. When it does happen, you get to see everybody come together, and it’s beautiful,” Maggie Huston of Proctorsville said to NBC TV-5. “I think this is an opportunity to reflect on the issues we face in the world and consider how we can come together to make things right in solidarity.”
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