HCR 81

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2025
No. R-101. House concurrent resolution in memory of former Bakersfield Select
Board member Brenda Churchill.
                                          (H.C.R.81)
   Offered by Representatives Krowinski of Burlington, Arsenault of Williston, Berbeco
of Winooski, Bishop of Colchester, Black of Essex, Bluemle of Burlington, Bos-Lun of
Westminster, Boyden of Cambridge, Burke of Brattleboro, Burrows of West Windsor,
Campbell of St. Johnsbury, Casey of Montpelier, Christie of Hartford, Cina of
Burlington, Coffin of Cavendish, Cole of Hartford, Corcoran of Bennington, Cordes of
Bristol, Dodge of Essex, Dolan of Essex Junction, Garofano of Essex, Goslant of
Northfield, Graning of Jericho, Gregoire of Fairfield, Harrison of Chittenden, Headrick of
Burlington, Holcombe of Norwich, Houghton of Essex Junction, Howard of Rutland
City, Hunter of Manchester, Kleppner of Burlington, Kornheiser of Brattleboro, Krasnow
of South Burlington, Labor of Morgan, Lalley of Shelburne, LaLonde of South
Burlington, Lipsky of Stowe, Logan of Burlington, Long of Newfane, Luneau of St.
Albans City, Masland of Thetford, McCann of Montpelier, McCoy of Poultney, McGill
of Bridport, Minier of South Burlington, Morris of Springfield, Nugent of South
Burlington, Ode of Burlington, Page of Newport City, Pouech of Hinesburg, Priestley of
Bradford, Rachelson of Burlington, Scheu of Middlebury, Sibilia of Dover, Stevens of
Waterbury, Stone of Burlington, Surprenant of Barnard, Sweeney of Shelburne,
Tomlinson of Winooski, Waszazak of Barre City, Waters Evans of Charlotte, Wells of
Brownington, White of Waitsfield, Wood of Waterbury, and Yacovone of Morristown
  House concurrent resolution in memory of former Bakersfield Select Board member
Brenda Churchill
   Whereas, to many, Brenda Churchill was best known as a leading advocate for
transgender rights within the LGBTQIA+ community, but this was not her sole civic or
political engagement, and
   Whereas, for over two decades, she was employed in the telecommunications industry
and later brought this professional expertise to her service on the board of Northwest
Fiberworx, the Communications Union District serving Franklin and Grand Isle
Counties, and
   Whereas, Brenda Churchill served as a key aide in Christine Hallquist’s 2018
gubernatorial campaign, and she completed the Emerge Vermont candidate training
program, and also served on the organization’s board, and
   Whereas, as the legislative liaison for the LGBTQIA Alliance of Vermont, her efforts
were critical in legislative enactments related to ethnic and social equity studies in public
schools; the provision of gender-neutral bathrooms; adding a non-binary designation
option for Vermont drivers’ licenses; and establishing a birth certificate authentication
process, and
  Whereas, Brenda Churchill’s interests also focused on municipal government in the
Town of Bakersfield, where she served as a zoning official and the local American
Rescue Plan manager, and she won election as both a justice of the peace and select
board member, and
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2025
   Whereas, during the 2020 U.S. Census, she served as one of the Vermonters
performing the vital role of data collector for the decennial headcount, and
  Whereas, when not engaged in one of her many public or nonprofit sector roles,
Brenda Churchill loved riding her bright orange Jeep off-trail on interesting journeys, and
   Whereas, Brenda Churchill’s participation in local and State government culminated
in being selected as a member of the Vermont Commission on Women, and
   Whereas, on January 13, 2025, Brenda Churchill died at 67 years of age, and her
survivors include her partner, Sarah Chapman; her children; and her grandchildren, now
therefore be it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
  That the General Assembly extends its sincere condolences to the family of Brenda
Churchill, and be it further
   Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
her family, the Bakersfield Town Clerk, and the Vermont Commission on Women.
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