Vermont


Equality Below is a timeline detailing the history and accomplishments of Equality Vermont, a political organization that worked for change in Vermont.

1986
    * Lesbian & Gay Coalition formed
    * Beginning of work for American Vermont Gay Rights
    * Lesbian & Gay Liaisons to Governor established
1988
    * HIV Anti-discrimination law passed
    * HIV and insurance law passed
1990
    * Hate Crimes law passed
1991
    * Introduction to GLBT community added to training for VT law enforcement officers
    * Human Right Commission established
1992
    * Gay Rights law passed
1993
    * Reorganized as VT Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights
    * 1st Annual Conference and Town Meeting
1994
    * 2nd Annual Conference and Town Meeting
    * First membership drive
    * Domestic partnership benefits for state employees
    * Harassment in Education law passed
1995
    * 3rd Annual Conference and Town Meeting
    * First Visibility Day at the Statehouse
    * Supported Rutland Free Library against gay censorship
    * VT Freedom to Marry Task Formed formed
    * Community Programs via VT Interactive Television
1996
    * 4th Annual Conference and Town Meeting
    * Visibility day at the Statehouse
    * Successfully fought to remove anti-gay language from VT Adoption Reform
    * VT Adoption Reform passed
    * Statewide speaking tour by Dr. Elias Farajaje-Jones
1997
    * 5th Annual Conference and Town Meeting
    * Visibility at the State House
    * Met with Legislators on anti-gay bill
    * Spoke at community gathering
1998
    * Last Annual Conference and Town Meeting
    * Visibility Day at the State House
    * Testified against the Citizens Initiative bill ‐ bill failed in committee
    * Anti-gay marriage bill failed in committee
    * In collaboration with Outright and Youth Aware met with Governor Dean on harassment for GLBTQ in public schools
    * Became part of the NGLTF Federation, joining 34 other states
    * Attended NGLTF conference in Pittsburgh ‐ attending mostly workshops on trangenders
1999
    * In collaboration with a member of the Transgender community successful added gender identity to the Hate Crime law
    * Testified against the Citizens Initiative bill
    * Met with legislators on the anti-marriage bill
    * Organized VT Equality Begins at Home Week, which occurred in all 50 states and was part of the NGLTF Federation
    * Involved with Safe School Conference
    * Visibility Day at the State House
    * Wrote a letter in supported of H. 470. Harassment in Education- (a bill that mandated training's in public schools- eight other organizations signed the letter)
2000
    * Worked with the VT Freedom to Marry Task Force to successfully pass the Civil Union Law
    * Visibility Day at the State House
    * Attempted to add gender identity to the anti-discrimination laws — bill failed in committee
    * Testified against the Citizens Initiative bill — bill failed in committee
2001
    * Mobilized glbti and allied organization against legislation that would have limited school teachers ability to discuss homosexuality in the schools.
    * Visibility Day at the State House
    * Supported Vermonters for Civil Unions in their work to keep the civil unions law intact
    * Kept Track of newly formed anti-gay groups in Vermont, which came to be because of the passage of the Civil Union law
    * Attended anti-gay Scott Lively's forum at Lyndon State College
    * Formed the VT Diversity Alliance
    * Testified against the Citizens Initiative bill
2002
    * In collaboration with Outright VT, worked to stop an initiative at Vermont Town meetings that would have told legislators to ban the discussion of homosexual in public schools.
    * Visibility Day at the State House
    * Supported Vermonters for Civil Unions in their work to keep the civil unions law intact
    * Attended anti-gay groups forums at the Vermont State House
    * In collaboration with LEAD International and the VT Human Rights Commission, began work on the VT Diversity Resource Guide
    * Attended the Queer Community summit meets started by RU12? Community Center
    * Reorganized as Equality Vermont
2003
    * Finished VT Diversity Resource Guide
 RU12  Community
Location and Mailing Address: The Champlain Mill, 20 Winooski Falls Way, Suite 102, Winooski, VT 05404
Phone: 802.860.7812 (RU12) | Email: thecenter@ru12.org


this site is under construction, and The LGBT Vermont community: RU12 has moved to RU12.ORG