Equality Vermont

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 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