In honor of Pride Foundation’s 30th anniversary, we are partnering with StoryCorps—an organization that shares our commitment to documenting and preserving the rich oral history of the LGBTQ community across our region. Over the next year, we will be sharing the stories we’ve collected through our recently-launched series: What Happens Here.
The stories are powerful and moving—touching on themes of legal protections, being LGBTQ in rural areas, parenting and family, coming out, marriage, and so much more. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
For the first installment in this series, What Happens Here explores the devastating loss that the LGBTQ community in Billings, Montana faced last August.
After months of organizing by local community members, the Billings City Council voted down legislation to adopt a citywide non-discrimination ordinance—which would have protected LGBTQ residents from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
One year later, we want to acknowledge the bravery and courage of Billings’ residents who stood up for our community by sharing their stories. Click on the image below to listen to Pride Foundation board member Shelley Hayes and her good friend Becky Webber discuss what it felt like to testify at the City Council hearing, and the aftermath in the community after the legislation failed. Viewing on a mobile phone, or tablet? Click here to listen to the audio recording.
Read more about Pride Foundation’s partnership with StoryCorps, here.