Hey, anybody know how to get in touch with the gender-nonconforming CHAOS! Dance Troupe? Because they’ve got another prime opportunity coming up this week.

The occasion: A bunch of far-right activists has reserved the Cedar Creek Room on Wednesday at noon for a Parents’ Rights Rally. “Parents’ Rights” (they actually misspell the phrase, but we’ll get to that) is ultraconservative code for cracking down on the allegedly liberal proclivities of public schools and libraries. It’s really about book banning and getting rid of DEI and critical race theory and, most of all, anything having to do with acceptance of gender nonconformity. After all, we’ve got to make those people as miserable as we possibly can, right?

The list of speakers for the event includes prominent ultraconservative culture warriors like John Klar and Gregory Thayer. We’ll get to the rundown, and wow is it a doozy, but I have to begin with one of three lawmakers who will share a lectern with this bunch of bozos.

I’m referring to Sen. Terry Williams, second-term Republican from Rutland County. He has been relatively circumspect in his public profile, and has shown few outward signs of being a far-right nut. But he’s been on my watch list*. And here he is, making common cause with some outrageously far-right figures. Which makes me wonder yet again how in Hell this guy wound up on the Senate Education Committee. I mean, they had to do something with all those Republicans, but if Williams is in the Thayer/Klar ballpark, he should have been shunted to something less crucial like Agriculture or Institutions or the useless Senate Ethics Panel.

*Note: A reader has provided a link to an outrageously telling commentary by Sen. Williams posted on, you guessed it, Vermont Daily Chronicle. See below.

His participation also makes me wonder about his “Yes” vote on Senate Resolution 15, “supporting Vermont’s transgender and non-binary community and declaring Vermont’s commitment to fighting discrimination and treating all citizens with respect and dignity.” This resolution passed the Senate 30-0, and Williams was officially recorded as voting in favor. Maybe someone will bring up his vote in front of the rally crowd. Should be worth a chuckle.

Continue reading →