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
Recent Comments