Veto in Vermont

[Kate Thomas]

Burlington Free Press, VT, USA


Friday, May 19, 2006

Transgender advocates rally over governor's veto

By Lauren Ober
Free Press Staff Writer
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060519/NEWS02/605190306/1007&theme=

At the rally, which drew about 60 people, advocates spoke about feeling disheartened by the veto. The governor's decision prompted one member of the state Human Rights Commission to resign his post. Charles Kletecka sent the governor his resignation letter Thursday in protest of the veto.

[amberctm]

As a Vermonter I sent an email to the governor's office in protest. I don't get why though; it passed with a good majority of the vote. Votes from both sides even. I find this really disturbing, and it upsets me immensely.
Amber

[Kate]

Do we know what his specific problems with the wording are?

It's difficult to tell if he vetoed it for "moral" reasons (using the wording issue as an excuse), or truly is concerned that the wording is too vague and could cause problems by protecting truly inappropriate behaviours (such as wearing a dress to sneak into women's rooms for sexual gratification, etc.).

[Kate Thomas]

An ap story

it is my current understanding that vermont passed a sexual orientation bill back in 1992 and that at that time transgender issues were dropped or excluded  in the name of incremental progress.  so the issues have been under scrutiny for quite some time



http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/051806vttrans.htm

"I am concerned that (the bill) did not receive the kind of careful scrutiny and study that would be expected prior to making major modifications to Vermont's anti-discrimination laws," Douglas said.

Douglas said in his veto message that state law already provided such protection.

[jan c]

Ya know I looked at this this way, just as language:

"Discrimination in Vermont is unacceptable and our state has a long, healthy and proud history of acceptance and tolerance," Douglas told the Legislature in the message accompanying his veto.

There is a jarring dissonance - see italics (mine) - between what he said (emphatically enough, right?) and what he did.