FRIEND OR FAMILY?

Voters in Vermont are faced with a Senate race between an openly gay Democrat and a pro-gay Republican

At first glance the U.S. Senate race in Vermont might seem like a no-brainer for gay and lesbian voters. After all, Democrat Ed Flanagan, Vermont's longtime state auditor, is running as an openly gay candidate. On September 12, after a hard-fought primary battle, he became the first openly gay person to be selected as a U.S. Senate nominee by either major political party. On the heels of legalizing civil unions between gay and lesbian couples earlier this year, Vermont has the chance to make history again November 7 by electing the nation's first out gay senator.

But it's not that simple. Flanagan is challenging Republican incumbent James Jeffords, whom many gay activists credit with being one of the few GOP senators willing to work on behalf of causes important to gay men and lesbians.

"We are in a very difficult spot," says Timothy J. Palmer, executive director of Vermont CARES, an AIDS health care service, adding that the race is a constant topic of discussion. "I think every gay and lesbian in the state wishes it were a clearer choice."

Palmer says he probably will not make an endorsement in the race. Although he's excited by the prospect of having an openly gay senator, he says he also has to be loyal to Jeffords, who played a key role in the reauthorization of the Ryan White Act, which provides funding for AIDS groups such as Vermont CARES.

The dilemma is not lost on gay political groups in Washington, D.C., either. In fact, the Human Rights Campaign, whose endorsements many gay voters rely on, is playing both sides of the fence in the Vermont race. HRC announced a dual endorsement September 19--donating $5,000 to both the Flanagan and the Jeffords campaigns. HRC officials say they are committed to helping openly gay people such as Flanagan get elected but that they also feel an obligation to assist supportive non-gay politicians such as Jeffords.

"What we're saying here is that supporting our issues can get you an endorsement from HRC," says Winnie Stachelberg, the group's political director. "Jeffords has a 96% [approval rating] with HRC. It's by far the best record of any Republican in the House or Senate." She also notes that Jeffords is the lead sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (a bill that would outlaw sexual orientation-based discrimination in the workplace) and was an outspoken supporter of hate-crimes legislation, which passed the Senate in June.

Stachelberg says HRC makes a point of being nonpartisan. In fact, the group opened itself up to intense criticism from New York voters in 1998 when it endorsed incumbent Republican U.S. senator Alfonse D'Amato over his challenger, Democratic congressman Charles Schumer, who went on to win the race. At the time, HRC officials said the organization owed its loyalty to D'Amato for his supportive stance on gay issues. Critics argued that D Amato's advocacy for gay rights was a fairly recent phenomenon compared with Schumer's.

"There are those out there who think we should never support Republicans," Stachelberg says. But in Washington, she says, the only way to get bills passed is to work with both parties. Without the backing of moderate Republicans like Jeffords, she adds, there would be no hope for bills important to the gay men and lesbians.

"The House and Senate [Republican] leadership has been aggressively antigay. We will aggressively support Republicans who support us," Stachelberg says.

Unlike HRC, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a group whose mission is to back viable openly gay and lesbian candidates, had little difficulty deciding who to endorse in Vermont.

Gay men and lesbians "need to have some openly gay people in [elected office]," says Victory Fund communications director Sloan Wiesen about the group's support for Flanagan. Sometimes where our candidates have the best chance [of winning] is where they aren't necessarilly going to be running against right-wing extremists."

Naturally, the confusion among the state's voters has left the candidates jockeying to prove who is more gay-friendly. Flanagan acknowledges that Jeffords has been pro-gay, but he draws the line at calling him a "champion. While he appreciates HRC's endorsement, he `says he's disappointed at not being the sole endorsee. And pointing out that Jeffords voted for the antigay Defense of Marriage Act (which passed 85-14 in 1996), Flanagan suggests that HRC's standards are too low when it comes to Republican candidates.

"DOMA was a bigoted and sad episode in the U.S. Congress," Flanagan says. "I would have been a strong opponent, and I am fully committed to [its] repeal." While Jeffords has since declared his support for Vermont's civil unions law, Flanagan maintains that Jeffords has not taken a leadership role on the issue. "He whispers words that are supportive, Flanagan says. "Jeffords has stood by and virtually remained silent."

Jeffords, meanwhile, stands by his support for DOMA--saying the issue of gay unions "should be left up to the states"--and he says he agrees with the way the Vermont legislature interpreted the state supreme court's decision regarding civil unions. "I think they did a good job," he says.

The senator, who said he is proud to have HRC's endorsement, also points out that he has taken a high-profile role in supporting AIDS causes. In fact, Washington, D.C.-based AIDS Action has honored him with its National Leadership Award for Public Policy. "I'm proud of my record, and I'm looking forward to another term in the Senate and making real progress toward the goal of equal rights for all," Jeffords says.

Of course, in the end the final decision rests with the people of Vermont. And according to Vermont CARES's Palmer, he and his fellow Vermonters recognize the significance of their vote on November 7. "We have the possibility of having history in our hands," he says. "Just like we did with civil unions."

Find more information on Flanagan, Jeffords, HRC, and the Victory Fund at www.advocate.com