Around 60 individuals gathered at the Missoula County Courthouse to commence the weekend-long Missoula Pride celebration. Speakers addressed concerns over recent legislative actions affecting the LGBTQ+ community, advocating for continued engagement and action amidst the festivities.
Devin Carpenter, co-director of Missoula Pride, emphasized, “These laws are not about protecting children… They’re about fear, control, and making us invisible.” Highlighting the harm these laws inflict, particularly on the youth, Carpenter urged resilience and visibility.
The Montana state legislature has approved bills limiting transgender individuals’ rights in public spaces, like bathrooms and sports teams. A court recently ruled a 2023 law banning transition-related healthcare for minors as unconstitutional.
Local efforts are seeing success, Carpenter noted. The Missoula City Council declared the Pride flag as an official city flag, responding to state restrictions on its display on government properties.
The Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners voted to display the Pride flag for June, with the decision backed by legal opinion ensuring other counties can follow suit without additional resolutions.
“These actions aren’t just symbolic,” Carpenter said. “They send a message… that Pride belongs here, that teachers and public employees can keep their flags up and fly them with pride.”
Chase Hakes of Missoula Resists explained Pride as both celebration and protest, continuing a long-standing struggle against damaging legislation. Hakes highlighted that community action in support of recognizing the Pride flag furthers this legacy.
“Let us stand firm against elected officials who try to legislate away our bodies and our lives,” Hakes stated. “…Montana’s Constitution is powerful, that it fiercely protects individual freedoms…”
Stacy Hunt from Queer Prom Montana stressed the value of supportive spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, detailing the group’s events like annual proms and activities promoting inclusivity.
“Safe and joyful spaces do not just make life better for queer youth, they save lives,” Hunt said. “One accepting person, one welcoming room… that’s what keeps our kids here.”
Queer Prom teen committee member Katie Carson remarked on the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community amidst recent legal challenges, stating, “We’re not just fighting for rights. We’re fighting for friends, safe spaces, chosen families, ourselves.”
Concluding the rally, Stevie Hirner led the gathering in songs embodying hope and protest, including “We Will Rock You” and “I’m Coming Out.”
“When it seems the world is coming down around us, it is easy to lean into our anger,” Hirner said. “But so is our hope.”
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