2018-2019 liaison reports
Alliance Liaison Open Forum
Montpelier Monday 1st October 2018
Liaisons: Jesse Scarlato and Keith Goslant
Montpelier Monday 1st October 2018
Liaisons: Jesse Scarlato and Keith Goslant
Issues and Discussion
Hate Crimes:
- VT Hate Crimes is a penalty enhancement not a stand-alone crime
- Consideration to make stand-alone crime so it is not merely a bargaining angle
- Of note: regarding statistics & prosecution, if there is not an identified perpetrator, there is not a crime as this is based on motivation and not merely the act itself.
- There was a bill during last legislative session to expand jurisdiction of Human Rights Commission but was not taken up as HRC said they did not have the staff to implement
- Will bill be reintroduced?
- Of note: HRC Executive Director has tendered resignation so agency in transition and slow to respond to complaints/phone calls
- Advocate for LGBTQ diversity training for State and local agencies, i.e. law enforcement
- Training should be ongoing and not a one/done approach
- Of note: Liaison Brenda Churchill and staff from Safe Space/Pride Center have been offering training at barracks/staff meetings upon request.
- Advocate for Liaisons to be created/recognized for municipalities; Burlington & Montpelier only localities currently with Liaison recognition
- Advocate for Liaisons to be created/recognized for State Agencies/Departments
- Of note: Liaisons Brenda Churchill & Keith Goslant are both on VT Public Safety’s Fair & Impartial Policing Advisory Committee
- Create LGBTQ specific Ombudsman position
- Companionship: outreach to seniors in long-term care facilities, in-home
- LGBTQ specific training for providers at all levels of service
- Training should be on-going and not one/done approach
- Home Share should have a LGBTQ specific listing/matching
- Affordable housing
- What is intake process for long-term care facilities, does it acknowledge sexual orientation and gender identity?
- LGBTQ specific estate planning
- LGBTQ specific assistance with application process for entitlement programs and applications for house/long-term care facilities, etc.
- Health care benefits: LGBTQ specific assistance with application process, i.e. Medicaid
- Is there an organization that can facilitate meetings to help resolve the current riffs within our communities?
- How do we do outreach to include all members within our communities, both geographic and identity
- Can we create a cohesive network of our communities?
- How do we move forward together?
- There was a bill introduced last session that would have truly created equal pay. Will it be reintroduced?
- Statistically the Transgender community has been under-paid and under-employed
Vermont’s Medicinal Marijuana Statutes
- While a majority of states permit the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, the specific state statutes vary significantly. Of interest in the employment law context, nine states—Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, and Rhode Island—have statutes that explicitly prohibit employment discrimination against medical marijuana users.
- “As an employer, your main concerns are efficiency in the performance of the job at hand and the prevention of any harm or safety issues,” says Caldwell. “No matter how you look at it, marijuana is still a Schedule I controlled substance” that has the ability to impair those who use it, he adds. To that end, “until a state statute explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of medical marijuana use or provides a private cause of action against employers who run afoul of such provisions, employers would be well advised to continue to regulate those activities with the creation of a safe and efficient workplace being the focal point of the decision-making,”
- "Some of the younger generation can’t imagine the days when it was not only unacceptable but also illegal to be open about sexual orientation. They don’t bear the scars of previous generations who had to hide." From: Does It Get Better For LGBT Seniors
- A few years ago, a young LGBTQ advocate turned and said, "thank you." I had no idea what he was talking about, so "for what" I asked. He then explained that he knew what he had gained came from those who had done the hard work before him. I thought, I didn't do anything and then I thought again...sometimes we don't remember what we did or the difference it made because at the time it felt more like a fight and at times, seemingly against all odds. Those of us old enough to be on the AARP mailing list have stories to tell. illuminating, comedies and tragedies, stories of resilience, perseverance and true grit. Like the article says, "some of the younger generation can't imagine the days..." but my guess is they would be willing to hear and bring those stories forward to bring awareness to the issues of aging LGBTQ people in our community.
- Another post-forum comment supported this assessment and offered that having a digital library of Out in the Mountains helped to maintain access to VT’s LGBTQ history. Of note, the archives are currently available via UVM. The VT Historical Society is investigating creating a digital version as well.
- VT coalition for ethnic and social equity in schools scheduled to meet on Saturday October 27th 9 am at the Waterbury Congregational Church to discuss the introduction of legislation.
- Coalition is reaching out to Senator Anthony Pollina