Why Proposal 4 matters to LGBTQ+ youth

This commentary is by Dana Kaplan, executive director of Outright Vermont.

Every day at Outright Vermont, we work alongside young people who are worried. They’re worried about their safety, the rollback of their rights, and their futures. With over 530 anti-LGBTQ+ bills across the country, their very existence is being debated among adults, and their access to healthcare, education, sports and other opportunities is shrinking. For queer and transgender young people, these are not theoretical threats or concerns; they are very real and impact their lives today. 

That is why Proposal 4 matters.

On Nov. 3, Proposal 4 will be on the ballot, and Vermonters will decide whether to amend our state constitution to permanently protect against discrimination based on characteristics including race, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and national origin. Proposal 4 would put these equal rights protections into Vermont’s constitution, making our commitment to equal rights more lasting.

It’s important to recognize that we have laws in place to protect Vermonters, but as we bear witness to what is happening across the country, laws alone can be tenuous protections and can change as political leadership changes.

With today’s reality as the backdrop, imagine being a young person planning for your future. Will you be treated equally when you attend school or search for a job or housing? Will you be able to live in a community where you know you are safe? 

Nobody should have to wonder whether their rights will be protected. And they should not have to be exceptional or endlessly resilient to be treated equally. Everyone deserves to know that they belong, that they matter, and that Vermont’s commitment to equality is more than a promise; it’s codified in our state’s constitution. 

Proposal 4 would send a strong message to LGBTQ+ young people and to all Vermonters who have experienced discrimination: You belong. You matter. Your rights will not depend on the goodwill of others — they are in the Vermont Constitution.  

And let’s be clear: This is not symbolic, and equality is not a limited resource. It’s about making permanent protections against discrimination for people across communities who have experienced unequal treatment. No one loses, and there are no trade-offs here. Making our commitment to equality clear is good for all Vermonters, and it’s staying true to our values as a state. It says to young people: Your future is not a political bargaining chip. You deserve a state that puts its commitment to your dignity, safety and equal treatment in its most fundamental governing document.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Why Proposal 4 matters to LGBTQ+ youth.