>> GOVERNOR SCOTT SIGNS S.100 ALSO KNOWN AS THE HOME ACT HOPING IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR DEVELOPERS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

HE USED HESS VETO POWERS TO SEND S217 BACK TO LEGISLATORS.

>> IF WE HAD GONE WITH THE PROPOSAL I PUT FORWARD, THE 66 MILLION OUT OF KPEUFPTING RESOURCES WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TIED FOR NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF GENEROSITY.

THAT'S A PRETTY BOLD STATEMENT.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE'S VETOING THE PAYROLL TAX, NOT CHILD CARE.

SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERSHIP SAYS THIS BILL WILL BE THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY DURING THE VETO OVERRIDE SESSION.

>> JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH.

JOINING US ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF "VERMONT THIS WEEK" AND OAN AULD LGBTQIA PLUS PANEL.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

>> >> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND ML NE TRAVEL.

>> WELL COME TO A SPECIAL PRIDE EDITION OF "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

I'M YOUR HOST CONNOR CYRUS.

BEFORE WE KICK OFF OUR DISCUSSION OF LGBTQIA PLUS ISSUES, FIRST RECAP OF THE WEEK'S STOP STORIES TOP STORIES.

THE VERMONT LEGISLATURE HAS SCHEDULED A THREE-DAY VETO SESSION STARTING JUNE 20 BUT COULD GO LONGER DEPENDING HOW THINGS GO.

THIS WEEK GOVERNOR SCOTT VETOED THE CHILD CARE BILL, HOUSE BILL 217.

ADVOCATES FOR THE BILL SAY IT WOULD EXTEND CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES TO ABOUT 7,000 CHILDREN STATEWIDE AND GIVE THEM ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE AND COULD EVENTUALLY MAKE PRE-K PART OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM LIKE ANY OTHER GRADE.

GOVERNOR SCOTT SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO OVER BURDEN VERMONTERS TO PAY FOR THE SWEEPING PROGRAM.

NOW SENATOR PHIL BARUTH HAD THIS TO SAY.

THIS BILL WILL BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE VETO OVERRIDE SESSION.

AT WHICH TIME WE WILL SPEAK LOUDLY AND THE ONLY WAY THAT MATTERS IN THE END.

WE WILL VOTE TO END THE CHILD CARE DESERT IN OUR STATE AND VOTE TO PAY CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS A RESPECTABLE WAGE.

VERMONT KIDS CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.

THAT WAS SENATOR PHIL BARUTH.

THE GOVERNOR HAS LAID OUT A CHILD CARE PLAN WHICH WOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL $56 MILLION INVESTMENT BUT WOULD NOT CREATE AN ADDITIONAL PAYROLL TAX FOR VERMONTERS.

THE GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO WORK ON ADDRESSING THE HOUSING SHORTAGE IN OUR STATE.

EARLIER THIS WEEK HE SIGNED SENATE BILL 100 INTO LAW.

THE BILL EXEMPTS DEVELOPERS FROM NEEDING A PERMIT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISK NATURED AREAS ACROSS THE STATE.

IT REQUIRES HIGH DENSITY LOCAL ZONING AND INCLUDES TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO REHAB ALREADY EXISTING BUILDINGS.

FINALLY THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ADVISORY MONDAY AFTERNOON WARNING POOR AIR QUALITY COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR AT RISK GROUPS.

WIDESPREAD FIRES HAVE CAUSED UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY ACROSS MUCH OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE NORTHEAST SHOULD SEE THINGS CLEAR UP AS WINDS PUSH SOUTH AND WEST.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THOSE STORIES AND MORE CHECK OUR WEBSITE, VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG.

>> NOW LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL PANEL THIS WEEK.

WE HAVE LONG TIME VERMONT REPORTER JACK THURSTON.

WE HAVE WCAX MORNING AN KPHOR DOM AMATO AND REPRESENTATIVE TAYLOR SMALL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ALL LGBTQIA PANEL.

FOR PEOPLE WATCHING AND LISTENING AT HOME LGBTQIA ASSISTANTS FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BY SEXUAL, QUEER.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TACKING ABOUT.

WHEN WE TALK THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY WHAT DO YOU SEE IN TERMS OF HOW OUR STATE IS DOING?

>> I WOULD SAY OUR STATE IS LEAD NOT GUILTY A LOT OF WAYS.

WHEN WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH ANTI-LGBTQIA LEGISLATION ACROSS THE NATION VERMONT HAS CEMENTED OUR VALUES SAYING WE NOT ONLY RESPECT BUT WE HONOR THAT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SUCH AS GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE IS A LEGALLY PROTECTED RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF VERMONT.

I ALSO LOOK TO VOTE RESOLUTIONS WE HAVE PUT FORWARD.

LAST YEAR WE PUT ONE FORWARD SAYING WE WERE GOING TO BE DOING THESE IN THE FIRT PLACE THEN THIS YEAR ON TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY AS VERMONT YOUTH SPOKE OUT ON THE FRONT STEPS OF THE STATE HOUSE WE PASSED A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ACTS HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES AND ONCE AGAIN SAY THAT WE ARE STANDING WITH OUR LGBTQIA YOUTH.

>> JACK, YOU HAVE BEEN HERE A WHILE.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN TERMS OF GROWTH OR PUSHBACK IN TERMS OF HOW THE STATE TALKS ABOUT AND IDENTIFIES WITH THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY?

>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS AHEAD OF THIS BROADCAST, CONNOR.

I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY NOT FROM THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF INTERVIEWS, I REMEMBER SEVERAL OF THEM VERY VIVIDLY.

ONE WAS IN 2009, I WAS WORKING AT WCAX, AND I WAS SENT TO THE DAY THE LEGISLATURE OVER RODE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

I WAS TOLD TO GET PERSON ON THE STREET REACTION.

THERE WAS AN OLDER WOMAN WHO I WANTED HER OPINION OF THE OVERRIDE.

SHE HAD A SNARL IN HER VOICE.

SHE SAID, YOU WAIT.

THEY ARE GOING TO REGRET THIS WHEN THE DISEASE COMES.

IT WAS A HORRIFYING STATEMENT.

I DID NOT USE THAT ON THE AIR.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S COMPLETELY FALSE, DID NOT BELONG ON THE AIRWAVES, BUT THE REASON IT STUCK WITH ME IS BECAUSE IT REMINDED ME OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE AFRAID OF OTHER PEOPLE.

THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE TO BE AFRAID OF, THEY ARE PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH AND THAT WOMAN'S COMMENT WAS REFLECTIVE OF FEAR THAT WAS OUT THERE.

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

I THINK WE CERTAINLY HAVE MOVED WELL PAST FEAR OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE NEW FEARS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

I THINK THAT THE WAY THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE CAST PARENTS OF TRANS CHILDREN AS VILLAINS, THAT'S THE PRODUCT OF FEAR.

TRANS CHILDREN DESERVE OUR LOVE.

OUR COMPASSION.

OUR CARE.

THEY DON'T DESERVE TO BE DEMONIZED OR BE MADE FEEL LESS THAN.

I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT FRONT WE NEED TO GET PAST JUST AS WE GOT PAST FEAR OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE YEARS AGO.

>> DOM, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN YOUR TIME AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, YOU HAVE BEEN A REPORTER, NOW AN ANCHOR.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN TERMS OF COVERAGE?

>> I THINK IT HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT OVER THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

I RECENTLY REPORTED ON THE FIRST EVER ESSEX PRIDE 'FESS STHRAL HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND.

THERE WAS GREAT SHOWING, A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE.

YOU KNOW, THEY JUST WANTED TO HAVE THIS EVENT TO SHOW THAT THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE THAT YOUR FACEBOOK ALGORHYTHM TELLS YOU THEY ARE.

THEY ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR THAT FEEDBACK, THE FACT THAT IT WAS THE FIRST EVENT THEY HAD HELD AND THEY WERE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

ESSEX IS OPENING TO HAVE IT AND WE SPOKE WITH SOMEONE IN NEWPORT, A TRANSGENDER MAN WHO HAD SET UP A PRIDEFEST IN NEWPORT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

IN PART DUE TO THE DERBY SELECT BOARDS.

THEY DENIED THE DECLARATION INCLUSION AND THEY WANT TO SHOW THAT TIMES ARE CHANGING.

WE NEED TO ACCEPT THIS WHO WE ARE.

YOU NEED TO ACCEPT WHO WE ARE AND I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM WHERE PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AS ACCEPTED AS THEY ARE IN THE WINOOSKI, CHITTENDEN AREA.

I HAVE BEEN PRETTY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL I HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED.

MY STORY NOT LOT OF THAT HAPPENING WHEN IT COMES TO PUSHBACK THAT'S LEAVING THE INTERNET GOING PUBLIC WHETHER IT'S STICKER CAMPAIGN, WHETHER-, ONE OF THE GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS HAD A TWASITY KA PAINTED ON IT WITH FECES.

THERE'S STILL A LOT FOR OUR STATE TO OVERCOME.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

DO WE ENGAGE WITH THIS?

>> THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.

TRILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.

I THINK VERMONT HAS LEADERS SUCH AS TAYLOR AND OTHERS WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO TAKE ON THESE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T GIVE OUR GOVERNOR SOME CREDIT HERE.

THIS IS A REPUBLICAN WHO HAS "MARCHED" IN PRIDE PARADES, HAS SPOKEN UP AGAINST SUCH ACTS OF VANDALISM OR HATE AS HE HAS, AND HAS COME TO THE DEFENSE OF THE TRANS COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED IN THE WAYS YOU'RE DESCRIBING.

THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP FROM A REPUBLICAN YOU EXPECT IT OF COURSE FROM THE DEMOCRATS AND PROGRESSIVES BUT WHEN WE HAVE THE MOST VISIBLE REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE SAYING THOSE THINGS THAT SHOULD REFLECT THAT WE CAN'T -- NO ONE TOLERATES THE KIND OF BEHAVIOR YOU'RE DESCRIBING WITH THE SCHWASS DI KA.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE SPEAKING UP THE WAY THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS.

MORE VOCALLY.

>> YOU ARE IN THE LEGISLATURE, REPRESENTATIVE SMALL.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> I THINK GOING BACK TO DOM'S POINT EARLIER, WE ARE SEEING THIS BACKLASH IN RESPONSE TO GREATER VISIBILITY IN THE STATE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER YEAR SEEING OVER A DOZEN PRIDE EVENTS HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE OF VERMONT FROM NEWPORT DOWN TO BENNINGTON, BRATTLEBORO, EVEN "BARRE MEMORIES: QUARRYING THE PAST" RAY AND LYNDONVILLE.

THAT SHOWS COMMUNITIES ARE COMING OUT IN SUPPORT, THEY ARE ORGANIZING LOCALLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE'S A NEED FOR VISIBILITY, A NEED FOR SUPPORT FOR THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY MORE BROADLY.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATURE I THINK IT'S AMAZING.

WE JUST HEARD FROM THE LGBTQIA VICTORY INSTITUTE THAT VERMONT IS LEADING WITH THE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES OUT IN LGBTQIA WITH 14 OUT REPRESENTATIVES ACROSS THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

VERMONT VOTERS ARE SHOWING THE KINDS OF LEADERSHIP THEY ARE WANTING.

TO JACK'S POINT WE ALL NEED TO BE IN THE FIGHT AND SPEAKING UP, BEING TRUE ALLIES.

>> DOM, HOW DOES ONE BE AN ALLY?

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REPRESENTATION, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EVIDENCE HAPPENING ACROSS OUR STATE AND COUNTRY, THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE HAPPENING BUT ALSO MAJOR DRAWBACKS.

SO WHEN WE TALK TO OUR FRIENDS, OUR NEIGHBORS, HOW DO WE TEACH PEOPLE TO BE BETTER ALLIES?

>> THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DO WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTIVE AND HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE IN THE PAST.

IT COMES IN WAVES.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THINGS WERE FINE, VERMONT PASSED CIVIL UNIONS, THERE WAS HISTORIC CHANGE MADE THERON THINGS ARE NOW TAKING ANOTHER DIVE.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR AND WORRY ABOUT WHAT KIDS ARE FEELING OR THINKING BUT IT'S JUST CONVERSATIONS HELP OPEN THIS UP, OPEN THIS CAN OF WORMS THAT NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT.

FACEBOOK ALGORHYTHM THAT POINTS PEOPLE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

I THINK THESE OPEN CONVERSATIONS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

FRIENDS, FAMILY.

I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY VERY SUPPORTIVE, FRIENDS, VIEWERS VERY SUPPORTIVE.

IT CAN BE TOUGH.

IF YOU DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE FEELS THE WAY THEY DO THAT MIGHT BE SCARY TO YOU BUT I TRULY THINK IN OPEN CONVERSATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

JUST SEEING BOTH SIDES.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO SEE THE SIDE OF HATE AND WHAT NOT BUT I THINK SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO HEAR WHAT THEY ARE SAYING THEN REFLECT WITH INFORMATION AND JUST FACTS.

>> JACK?

>> I THINK IT STARTS AT HOME.

RIGHT?

I MEAN ANY ADULT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A PARENT EVEN IF IT'S NOT TO A BIOLOGICAL CHILD OF THEIRS.

WE ALL NEED TO REFLECT GOOD BEHAVIOR FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND US.

IF ADULTS ARE BEHAVING A CERTAIN WAY THE KIDS WILL BEHAVE A CERTAIN WAY.

THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE KIDS.

IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE ADULTS.

IT'S INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US TO MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE HRC, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST LGBTQIA ADVOCACY GROUPS, ISSUED A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR LGBTQIA AMERICANS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU WHEN YOU HEAR THAT?

>> I RECENTLY DID SEE THAT.

IT IS ALARMING, SOMETHING YOU DON'T EXPECT TO SEE AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO REACT TO THAT.

I THINK WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO LIVE HERE IN VERMONT.

WE DON'T REALLY SEE THAT EVERY DAY BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.

PEOPLE GET EMAILS, HATE POPS UP, THEY ARE ADDRESSED.

AS JACK SAID THE GOVERNOR ADDRESSED THEM AND HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THEM.

IT'S ALARMING, ALMOST LIKE WE ARE GOING BACK, BUT AGAIN IT'S JUST SEEING KIND OF WHERE THAT OTHER SIDE IS AND HOW CAN WE FIX THIS PROBLEM.

SEEMS LIKE WE JUST COME TOGETHER AND TALK THIS OVER IT SEEMS LIKE.

MAYBE BOTH SIDES MAYBE SEE ONE WAY AND COME TOGETHER AND TRY TO DISCUSS IT AS A GROUP.

IT'S CERTAINLY ALARMING.

I'M SURE FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE IT'S EVEN MORE ALARMING.

>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUT RIGHT VERMONT DANA KAPLAN HAD THIS TO SAY.

>> WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK ACROSS VERMONT AND CERTAIN ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF TARGETED HATE AND MESSAGES THAT TELL YOUNG PEOPLE AND QUEER APPEARED TRANS ADULTS THAT WHO THEY ARE IS ALLOWED TO EXIST.

WE'RE SEEING THAT IN STICKERING CAMPAIGNS, IN VANDALISM OF FLAGS.

THERE'S A LEVEL OF OVERT COORDINATED ATTACKS ON LGBTQIA FOLKS THAT IS PRETTY UNPRECEDENTED.

>> THAT WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUTRIGHT VERMONT DANA KAPLAN.

REALLY INTENSE STUFF.

WHEN I HEAR THAT MAKES ME SAD.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ANYBODY HEARS THAT AND THINKS THIS IS A GOOD THING.

SO WHEN YOU HEAR STUFF LIKE THIS, TAYLOR, REPRESENTATIVE SMALL, HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> IT'S GUT WRENCHING HONESTLY TO BE REMINDED OF THE HATE WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE NATION ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LEGISLATION IS SO TARGETED YET BROAD.

WE SEE THESE DRAG BANS GOING INTO PLACE AND WE'RE QUESTIONING THE MOTIVES WHY WOULD WE WANT TO REDUCE ENTERTAINMENT ALLOW THE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY.

WE SEE DRAG QUEENS AS LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOLKS ON THE FRONT LINES OF ACTIVISM AND SHOWING UNAPOLOGETIC QUEER JOY.

YET THAT LEGISLATION IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETING TRANS PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHAT'S BEING SHADOWED IN THIS LEGISLATION, HOW PEOPLE ARE BEING ATTACKED, FOLKS ARE USING LEGISLATION AS A TOOL TO GO AFTER OUR YOUTH.

THIS IS NOT NEW, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE BATHROOM BILLS THAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO.

YET THEY ARE SEEING ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT A WAY TO GROW THE BASE BASED ON HATE OF HOW CAN WE TARGET OUT A SPECIFIC GROUP, HOW CAN WE SAY ONCE AGAIN THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MAKING OUR COUNTRY BAD, INSTEAD OF SAYING HOW ARE WE COMING TOGETHER AS DOM SAID EARLIER.

HOW ARE WE COMING TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.

IT'S EASY TO POINT THE FINGER AND SAY ONE PERSON IS MAKING EVERYTHING TERRIBLE BUT IT'S NOT TRANS PEOPLE.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO LIVE OUR LIVED, TRYING TO FIND THAT JOY AND LOVE AND COMMUNITY.

>> SO OFTEN WE SEE MOLEHILLS BEING MADE INTO MOUNTAINS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS COUNTRY HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE INFLATION.

WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE LIST OF PROBLEMS GOES ON AND ON, BUT YET IN SOME STATES YOU WOULD THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS WHAT BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

IN WHAT WORLD IS HAVING MORE ACCESS TO BOOKS A BAD THING?

WHAT ABOUT ALSO IN LIBRARIES, DRAG QUEENS READING INNOCENT CHILDREN'S STORIES TO TODDLERS WHOSE PARENTS VOLUNTARILY BRING THEM TO HAVE A FANTASY EXPERIENCE IN A LIVELY, COLORFUL WAY N. WHAT WORLD IS THAT A BAD THING?

READING TO CHILDREN IS GOOD.

GET IT TOGETHER.

PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS.

THAT'S WHAT FRUSTRATES ME IS ALL THIS ATTENTION ON THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE A PRIORITY.

>> I WILL SAY WHEN I WORKED ON MY PRIDE STORY LAST WEEK I HAD TRIED TO REACH OUT TO WHAT SOME WOULD PERCEIVE AS THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT ISSUE.

A LOT OF THE TIMES THAT SIDE DOESN'T WANT TO BE HEARD.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DON'T WANT TO SHOW THEIR FACE AND SHARE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING BUT IT'S HARD TO SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT IT.

I DON'T NO KNOW WHY THAT IS.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HAVE A DRAG QUEEN IN THE ROOM WITH SOMEONE ON THE OTHER SIDE SAYING THIS STUFF ONLINE BUT IT'S HARD -- THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> THAT BRINGS ME TO A PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION.

ENTERTAIN ME FOR A LITTLE BIT.

IS IT ALWAYS APPROPRIATE TO SHARE BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY IF ONE IS PROVIDING HATE?

I KNOW THAT'S LIKE A VERY STICKY CONVERSATION BUT IT'S WORTH TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE PARTICULARLY PEOPLE THAT DON'T SUPPORT THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY, THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, THEY ARE MAYBE OUR FRIENDS.

THEY ARE HERE.

SO HOW DO WE AS JOURNALISTS AND LEGISLATORS ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN US WHILE ALSO PRESERVING OUR INTEGRITY OF WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT?

>> I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO GIVE BOTH SIDES EQUAL TIME.

IF THE LGBTQIA PLUS SIDE OF THE DEBATE IS GETTING A MINUTE THAT'S NOT TO SAY OPPONENTS ALSO GET A MINUTE BUT I THINK ANY GOOD STORY WOULD PUT OPPOSITION IN FAIR CONTEXT.

I'M THINKING OF A STORY I DID LAST YEAR ABOUT THE STICKERING CAMPAIGN IN BURLINGTON.

I DID NOT TALK TO THE PEOPLE PUTTING UP THE STICKERS.

I DESCRIBED WHAT THEY SAID.

BUT I ALSO EMPHASIZED THAT THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THEY DID NOT COMMIT A CRIME.

THIS IS A FORM OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

THAT'S CONTEXT.

IT'S NOT BALANCED TRULY BUT IT HELPS THE VIEWER OR THE READER UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE.

I THINK THAT AGAIN IT DOESN'T REQUIRE EQUAL TIME BUT IT DOES REQUIRE CONTEXT YOU UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE MORE BROADLY.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> CONTACT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THERE ARE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF STORIES WHERE IT'S HARD TO PROVIDE THE CONTEXT ON BOTH SIDES.

I THINK OF THE HEALTH CLASSES THERE WAS CHANGING LANGUAGE IN HEALTH CLASS.

THE PARENTS AND THE PEOPLE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THE NIGHTS THEY HAD IT WERE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE.

OTHER PEOPLE WEREN'T SO SUPPORTIVE BUT I FELT IN THAT SITUATION IT WAS STILL IMPORTANT TO GET THAT BECAUSE I'M SURE MANY PARENTS DID FEEL THAT WAY BUT DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING OUT IN A PUBLIC FORUM WITH A TV CRAM THERE TO SAY THAT.

I THINK IN MANY CASES, YES, MAYBE ONE SIDE IS COMPLETELY BONKERS.

YOU CAN'T GIVE THEM THE TIME.

WHICH IS RARE BUT THERE ARE CASES WHERE THAT DOES HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK AGAIN IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT, INCLUDE THAT, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE SUPER PUBLIC ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT THEY STILL HAVE THOSE FEELINGS AND THOSE ARE STILL VALID.

>> REPRESENTATIVE SMALL, AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS AN ENTIRE DISTRICT AND PASS LEGISLATION AND UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES, HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THAT?

>> I THINK THERE'S AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS A LITER IN COMMUNITY IN PROMOTING OUR VALUES, WHR *S MY PERSONAL VALUES AS WELL AS SHARE VALUES AS A COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY THE VOTERS COME N. THIS CONTEXT P-F HAVING EQUAL OR SHARED SPACE WITH OPPOSING VIEWS TIES DIRECTLY INTO LEGISLATION AND LEGISLATIVE DEBATE.

WHEN WE COME INTO THIS WORK WE'RE TOLD WE ARE ALL EQUAL.

OF COURSE WE CAN LOOK AT POSITIONAL POWER, WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER ASPECTS OF POWER THAT SHOW UP IN THAT SPACE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE EACH HAVE ONE VOTE OPD ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION BEFORE US AND WE HAVE UNLIMITED TIME TO BE ABLE TO DEBATE AND TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO BE ABLE TO LOOK TO EACH OTHER TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S THE LEGISLATION WE WANT TO PASS.

WHAT IS REALLY CONCERNING ACROSS THE NATION IS WE'RE SEEING TRANS LEGISLATORS CENSURED SIMPLY FOR SHARING THEIR POINT OF VIEW.

WE SAW IT IN MONTANA NOKLAHOMA.

TWO REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKING AGAINST ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION THAT WAS DIRECTLY IMPACTING NOT ONLY THEM BUT THEIR CONSTITUENCY.

FOR ALLOWING THAT POINT OF VIEW ON THE FLOOR THEY WERE CENSURED, NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK ANY MORE.

SO I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE RIGHT IS POINTS THE FINGER SAYING OUR POSITION IS NOT BEING HEARD.

WE'RE NOT GETTING OUR VIEWPOINTS OUT THERE, AT THE SAME TIME RESTRICTING THE ACCESS TO PEOPLE'S PLATFORM THAT THEY WERE ELECTED, THAT THEY WERE GIVEN TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

>> I WANT TO MOVE ON AND TALK SOMETHING MORE CHEERFUL.

IT'S PRIDE MONTH.

WE KNOW PRIDE STARTED AS A RIOT AT THE STONE WALL IN IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1969.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY CHANGED AND IT'S BECOME A LOT MORE ABOUT VISIBILITY AND BEING OUT AND PROUD AND ACCEPTING YOURSELF.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, WHAT PRIDE MEANS TO YOU.

>> I THINK IT STILL MATTERS.

YES, IT STARTED AS A RIOT, BUT THERE NEEDS TO STILL BE RIOTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THERE STILL ARE PEOPLE WHO FEEL GREAT FEAR ABOUT THEIR SAFETY, THEIR HEALTH, WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO BE ACCEPTED IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

LUCKILY IN VERMONT I DON'T THINK THAT'S A COMMONLY HELD VIEW BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY MANY PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE ARE STILL AFRAID TO COME OUT.

THEY ARE AFRAID TO MAYBE TELL AN EMPLOYER AT THE WORKPLACE.

THE HARD WORK ABOUT PRIDE IS NOT OVER YET.

BUT IT STILL SHOULD BE A FUN MONTH TOO.

THERE STILL SHOULD BE SOME PARTIES, SOME GET-TOGETHERS BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> DOM, WHAT DOES PRIDE MEAN TO YOU?

>> I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

IN MY WORK AND WHAT I DO IT'S SO OPEN, EVER