Homophobia in Burlington

Vandals have smashed windows at RU12? Queer Community Center on Elmwood. The police are calling it a hate crime. The story was inside the Vermont section in the Free Press. The story merited front page coverage. Systemic homophobia is alive and well in Burlington. It will be interesting to see if there is a follow-up story on the BPD investigations and how much priority they will give to it.

COMMENT: The paper labels RU12? as a 'gay advocacy' group. From the comments on this story, some people think advocacy is deplorable. But all too often the queer community has been shunned by the hetero's. Who's going to stand up for injustice and systemic homophobia? RU12? is actually an education and community center for all of Burlington. I would encourage str8 Burlington to check out the activities there, drop in, listen to the stories of the members, become an ally, and connect on a human level.

and this...

The Vermont Attorney General's Office has decided not to pursue an appeal of a judicial ruling that dismissed hazing charges against a University of Vermont fraternity [...] stemm[ing] from a so-called "Brokeback Mountain" party in March 2006 in which pledges were allegedly taunted with homophobic language.

You will recall the hoopla about Judge Edward Cashman in January, 2006, but I see no one callng for the resignation of Judge Charon True or Attorney General William Sorrel.

COMMENT: By True's action and Sorrel's inaction, they're allowing systemic homophobia to continue in Vermont.