Opponents of equality are stirring up unfounded fears about safety and privacy in an effort to enshrine discrimination into law. Last week, Rep. Carl Glimm (R, Kila) introduced HB 609. This law would force all Montanans to use public facilities based on their biological sex as designated on their original birth certificate. It goes even
If there were any remaining questions about how LGBTQ people would be treated by the Trump administration, we received a crystal clear answer last week when they announced they would revoke the guidance that protected transgender students from discrimination in schools. This action ruthlessly targets some of the most vulnerable within our community: transgender youth
Engraved on the south wall of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorial in Washington D.C. is his quote: “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” This sentiment is what I am especially holding onto today—Valentine’s Day.
We have all been waiting—and then waiting some more—to see what’s next from this new administration and Congress. This is contributing to a climate of anxiety, fear, and anticipation that we are living with every day as we try to figure out what this political reality will mean for ourselves, our families, and our world.
Helena Montana’s first fully-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance officially goes into effect today, February 8, 2017. It has been a long road to get here. Four years ago, when the community worked to get Helena’s first non-discrimination ordinance passed, an exclusion was adopted that specifically targeted transgender and gender diverse people. As written, the exclusion required transgender
Last month’s stunning Women’s Marches in Washington D.C. and across the globe were, in part, inspired by the 1963 March on Washington. This display of solidarity and unity brought to mind a quote from civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, perhaps best known as the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington and advisor to Reverend
For many of us, this new year has been fraught with worry about what’s ahead. In moments like these, it is even more important that we pause to celebrate examples of our unity and our success. Here are three recent accomplishments that your support made possible: On January 9, the Helena City Commission voted 3-2
Just minutes after Donald Trump was sworn into office, the pages dedicated to LGBTQ rights, civil rights, climate change, women, and immigration were removed from WhiteHouse.gov. While this move only confirmed what we already assumed about this administration, it didn’t make watching our lives being erased any easier. And it wasn’t any easier watching him
On a cold morning last month in Pasco, Washington—despite nearly six inches of freshly fallen snow—more than 40 people came together to develop an action plan to create supportive and safe spaces for LGBTQ students in the Educational Service District (ESD) 123, which educates more than 70,000 Washington students. As someone who has lived in
In anticipation of the 2017 Washington State legislative session, many groups concerned with advancing LGBTQ equality are busy studying bills, coordinating lobbying efforts, meeting with state legislators, and organizing community partners. One such organization is Legal Voice, a Seattle-based organization pursuing justice for all women and girls in the Northwest through groundbreaking litigation, legislative advocacy,