112/7/D1

Political Button

A light pink pin with an equilateral triangle in the center. "ALLY" is written within the triangle.
light pink

1997.15.4

The pin was worn by Montpelier High School students in May 1997 as part of the Outright Vermont program at the school. The mission of Outright Vermont is to foster sensitivity and understanding of the issues facing gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. Wearing the pin signaled the wearer was an "ally" or friend of gay, lesbian and bisexual youth.

Political Button

White square metal button with the black inscription, "SUPPORT THE RIGHTS OF ALL VERMONTERS" over a pink triangle.

2013.9.22

Made to show support for gay rights. The pink triangle was originally a symbol used in Nazi concentration camps to identify gay men, but it was reclaimed in the 1970s by gay activists as a rallying symbol for equal rights.

Political Button

Dark green pin with white writing- "VERMONT- FIRST IN EQUALITY"
Designed by Rev. (Ms) Lee Crawford, rector at St. Mary's Church, Northfield, VT. and handed out at the 2000 Episcopal Diocesan Convention to celebrate the Civil Union Bill.

2001.18.3

Civil unions were established in Vermont in 2000 to provide same-sex couples all the benefits, protections and responsibilities under law as are granted to spouses in a marriage. The marriage equality act, effective September 1, 2009 allows same-sex couples to marry in Vermont.

Political Button

Vermont Freedom to Marry pin. Yellow background with green lettering. Outline of the State of Vermont with "Vermont Freedom to Marry" beside it and printed below: "From legal rights/ to EQUAL rights". Identical to 2010.ll.17

2010.11.16

Vermont Freedom to Marry was the nonprofit, all-volunteer resource for marriage equality in Vermont that spearheaded the successful effort to secure the freedom to marry for the state’s same-sex couples.

Source for history below as of 3/24/2021 (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Freedom+to+Marry+vermont )

"The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force formed in 1996 with the mission of achieving civil marriage equality in Vermont. At the time, marriage equality did not exist in any nation in the world, and the concept of same-sex couples having the freedom to marry was foreign to many.

In the 20 years between VFMTF’s formation and the momentous U.S. Supreme Court decision that led to nationwide marriage equality, Vermont milestones marked the progress of the marriage-equality movement. Those milestones include the landmark 1999 Vermont Supreme Court Baker v. Vermont ruling, which found that same-sex couples in the state were entitled to the same benefits and protections as opposite-sex couples; the 2000 civil union legislation that was the first of its kind in the U.S.; and the 2009 override of Governor Douglas’s veto of the marriage bill, making Vermont the first state to successfully enact marriage equality via the legislative process."

Political Button

Purple pin with white lettering that promotes the organization, Out in the Mountains, that began publishing a periodic newspaper for gay and lesbian Vermonters in February of 1986.

2000.57.2

June 1984 would have been when the second Gay and Lesbian Pride March was held in Burlington.

Political Button

White pin on which is printed in green and red, "On Me Not In Me," and "AIDS Action Committee."

2000.57.3

The slogan "On me not in me" was a slogan that became popular in the gay community in the Northeast after the AIDS epidemic broke out in the 1980's. It related to safe sex practices. It is unclear who the AIDS Action Committee was or whether it was a Vermont organization.

Political Button

Bright pink button/pin with black printing. In the center is an upside down equilateral triangle with two linked rings (bands) running through it. Above the triangle "I SUPPORT" and on either side and around the bottom: "CIVIL RIGHTS FOR GAY/LESBIAN COUPLES"
No makers stamp or mark. Silver/chrome pin back.

2000.25.2

Pin of the Vermont Freedom To Marry Task Force, established in 1995 as an offshoot of the Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The task force helped three same-sex couples with their 1997 lawsuit against the state after they were refused marriage licenses. The Vermont Supreme Court ruled on Dec. 20, 1999 that same-sex couples were entitled under the Vermont Constitution to the same benefits and protections as married opposite sex couples, but the court left it to the Legislature to devise a solution. In 2000, the Legislature's solution was civil unions, a "separate but equal" legal union for same-sex couples. In 2009, the Legislature revisited the issue and approved marriage for same-sex couples.

Political Button

Rectangular white button with black lettering, with image of a standing cow in center, and printed at top: "VERMONT/ Proud," and below: "not cowed/ LESBIAN - GAY - BISEXUAL (on a pink background)/ pride '93" Black fiber backing with pin attached and at bottom edge, maker: "Amazing Promotions"

2014.48.8

The first Lesbian and Gay Pride March took place on June 25, 1983 in Burlington. This pin is dated 1993, a decade after the first march. There is no information about whether this pin was for statewide events planned in 1993 or tied to a specific march or celebration.

T-Shirt

White T-Shirt with purple and gold (metallic) decorations & lettering. On the left chest is a purple upside down equilateral triangle with two linked gold rings/bands across the center. Below is "VERMONT" in gold with a purple outline. Across the back is a purple rectangle with white "I Do SUPPORT the / Freedom to Marry."

2000.25.1

T-Shirt

White t-shirt with purple logo in center and printed above: "NEW VICTORIA" and below: "1975-1995" Labels at neck gives maker: "Hanes" with washing instructions, etc.

2015.5.2

T-shirt

"Take Back Vermont" t-shirt. White cotton t-shirt with "TAKE BACK/ VERMONT" in 2.75" black letters across front.. Tags at neck indicate maker: "Fruit of the Loom" and fabric content, size and washing instructions.

2010.11.74