Bill Lippert
Encyclopedia
William J. Lippert, commonly known as Bill Lippert, is a legislator and gay rights activist from the U.S. state of Vermont
who has served since 1994 in the Vermont House of Representatives
as a representative of the Chittenden-1-1 House district in Hinesburg
. He serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
and graduated from Earlham College
in 1972 with a B.A. in History. He has lived in Vermont since 1972, and moved to Hinesburg in 1979.
In the early 1970s, he formed the state's first gay men's support group and, in 1983, Lippert worked with others to organize Vermont’s first gay pride
rally in Burlington. Later, he was instrumental in lobbying for Vermont’s gay civil rights bill, which passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Madeleine M. Kunin
in 1991. In 1990, Lippert helped to establish Outright Vermont
, an organization dedicated to serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth.
In 1992, along with community activist David Curtis, Lippert founded the Samara Foundation of Vermont, a community foundation whose mission is "to improve the quality of life of Vermont's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens." Lippert served as the executive director of the Samara Foundation until 2004. Lippert now works part-time as the senior foundation officer for the Samara Foundation.
to fill a vacant seat representing Hinesburg in the Vermont House of Representatives. He was elected to the seat in 1996 and has been re-elected biennially ever since. The 2011–12 biennium is his eighth full term in the legislature.
law which granted legal recognition to same gender couples. Following passage of the civil union law, the Vermont Democratic Party faced a backlash and lost its majorities in both chambers of the Vermont Legislature. Subsequently, Lippert lost his position as vice chair of the Judiciary Committee, though he easily won re-election to his seat in the house. Following the 2004 election, the Democrats regained their majority and Lippert was appointed to chair the Judiciary Committee by House Speaker Gaye Symington
. He still serves as chair as of February 2011.
, interrupted his breakfast in the Vermont statehouse cafeteria to ask him why he didn't support Jessica's Law
, for which host Bill O'Reilly
is an advocate. Lippert was a central figure in passing similar child protection legislation earlier that same week. Ultimately, the Fox News crew was escorted out of the statehouse by security. The exchange was broadcast on Fox News on May 14, 2007. Later that day, in response to the incident, fellow lawmakers honored Lippert in the well of the House with a standing ovation.
(D–Burlington
), Jason Lorber
(D–Burlington), Brian Campion
(D–Bennington) and Herb Font-Russell
(D–Rutland).
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
who has served since 1994 in the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
as a representative of the Chittenden-1-1 House district in Hinesburg
Hinesburg, Vermont
Hinesburg is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Abel Hine, town clerk. The population was 4,340 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. He serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
Early life and career
Lippert grew up in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and graduated from Earlham College
Earlham College
Earlham College is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. It was founded in 1847 by Quakers and has approximately 1,200 students.The president is John David Dawson...
in 1972 with a B.A. in History. He has lived in Vermont since 1972, and moved to Hinesburg in 1979.
In the early 1970s, he formed the state's first gay men's support group and, in 1983, Lippert worked with others to organize Vermont’s first gay pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
rally in Burlington. Later, he was instrumental in lobbying for Vermont’s gay civil rights bill, which passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Madeleine M. Kunin
Madeleine M. Kunin
Madeleine May Kunin is a Swiss-American diplomat and politician. She was the 77th Governor of Vermont from 1985 until 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party. She also served as United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 1996 to 1999. She was Vermont's first and, to date, only female governor...
in 1991. In 1990, Lippert helped to establish Outright Vermont
Outright Vermont
Outright Vermont is Vermont's only queer youth service organization. Its mission is to build safe, healthy, and supportive environments for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth....
, an organization dedicated to serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth.
In 1992, along with community activist David Curtis, Lippert founded the Samara Foundation of Vermont, a community foundation whose mission is "to improve the quality of life of Vermont's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens." Lippert served as the executive director of the Samara Foundation until 2004. Lippert now works part-time as the senior foundation officer for the Samara Foundation.
Appointment and re-election
In 1994, Lippert was appointed by Governor Howard DeanHoward Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
to fill a vacant seat representing Hinesburg in the Vermont House of Representatives. He was elected to the seat in 1996 and has been re-elected biennially ever since. The 2011–12 biennium is his eighth full term in the legislature.
Same-sex unions
In the year 2000, as the vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and as the chamber’s only openly gay member, Lippert was central to the work of drafting and passing into law the landmark Vermont civil unionCivil unions in Vermont
Same-sex marriage in Vermont began on September 1, 2009. Vermont was the first state to introduce civil unions in July 2000, and the first state to introduce same-sex marriage by enacting a statute without being required to do so by a court decision....
law which granted legal recognition to same gender couples. Following passage of the civil union law, the Vermont Democratic Party faced a backlash and lost its majorities in both chambers of the Vermont Legislature. Subsequently, Lippert lost his position as vice chair of the Judiciary Committee, though he easily won re-election to his seat in the house. Following the 2004 election, the Democrats regained their majority and Lippert was appointed to chair the Judiciary Committee by House Speaker Gaye Symington
Gaye Symington
Gaye R. Symington is the former Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly...
. He still serves as chair as of February 2011.
The O'Reilly Factor
On May 12, 2007, Lippert received national attention when a Fox News crew, on behalf of the program The O'Reilly FactorThe O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
, interrupted his breakfast in the Vermont statehouse cafeteria to ask him why he didn't support Jessica's Law
Jessica's Law
Jessica's Law is the informal name given to a 2005 Florida law, as well as laws in several other states, designed to punish sex offenders and reduce their ability to re-offend...
, for which host Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
is an advocate. Lippert was a central figure in passing similar child protection legislation earlier that same week. Ultimately, the Fox News crew was escorted out of the statehouse by security. The exchange was broadcast on Fox News on May 14, 2007. Later that day, in response to the incident, fellow lawmakers honored Lippert in the well of the House with a standing ovation.
Personal
Lippert now serves as one of five openly gay members of the Vermont Legislature, alongside representatives Suzi WizowatySuzi Wizowaty
Suzi Wizowaty is an author and politician from Burlington, Vermont. A Democrat, she is a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, representing the Chittenden-3-5 district in Burlington...
(D–Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
), Jason Lorber
Jason Lorber
Jason P. Lorber is a consultant, comedian and politician from Burlington, Vermont. A Democrat, he is a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, representing the Chittenden-3-3 district in Burlington...
(D–Burlington), Brian Campion
Brian Campion
Brian Campion is an American politician from Bennington, Vermont. A Democrat, he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 2010, representing the Bennington-2-1 district in Bennington and North Bennington. He took office on January 5, 2011....
(D–Bennington) and Herb Font-Russell
Herb Font-Russell
Herb Font-Russell is an American politician from Rutland, Vermont. A Democrat, he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 2010, representing the Rutland-5-3 district. He took office on January 5, 2011....
(D–Rutland).