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DALLAS VOICE News Item:   VERMONT PASSES GAY RIGHTS BILL

Vermont became the sixth state to protect gays and lesbians from discrimi-
nation when on April 23 Gov. Howard Dean signed a law passed the previous week
by the House and Senate.

The law bans discrimination based on sexual orientation in banking, credit
transactions, employment, housing, insurance and public accommodations such as
restaurants, taxis and zoos.  Religious organizations are exempt.

In signing the bill into law, Gov. Dean declared, "This bill is about Vermont-
ers standing up for traditional Vermont values.  We do not give in to bigotry;
we do not give in to hatred; we do not give in to division."
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rod williams -=- pacific bell -=- san francisco -=- rjwill6@pacbell.com