Out in the Mountains
Newspaper for LGBTQ+ Vermonters
Out in the Mountains (OITM) was published from 1986 until 2007. Started by members of Vermonters for Lesbian and Gay Rights, it became a vital source of information for LGBTQ+ Vermonters. The free newspaper was mailed to homes and distributed to stores and newsstands. It provided a forum for a diverse LGBTQ+ community to stay connected, covered issues facing the community such as violence, isolation and HIV, and discussed policy and organizing efforts to battle discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Vermont and in the United States as a whole. Some significant milestones for LGBTQ+ rights in Vermont covered by Out in the Mountains include the passage of Civil Unions and the Vermont Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The newspaper featured ongoing advice and dating column, a series of coming out stories, a column for youth writers, and profiles of prominent community members. It also provided space for LGBTQ+ artists and featured comics such as Alison Bechdel’s “Dykes To Watch Out For.” Calendar listings included events all across the state and into New Hampshire. The full run of OITM is in a few state archives, including the Vermont Queer Archives at Pride Center of Vermont, University of Vermont, and the Vermont Historical Society. It can be explored at http://cdi.uvm.edu/collection/
