Supporter of the week; UM Women's Resource Center

Hey, team--

In case you haven't noticed, the incredible 703 volunteers, together with several local businesses and organizations, have been painting Missoula black and green for equality.

One particular University of Montana organization has been setting us up for success by providing space, tables, and support in a big way. Honestly, we would be 100+ signatures less without their help and they deserve so much more than a shout-out;

Julia Jackson, 2011. (Via the UM WRC)

The amazing individuals of the UM Women's Resource Center do a lot with the University of Montana campus and community, including;

Love Your Body Day

Day of Dialogue

Take Back the Night

16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence

Panty Rock Drag Show

One Billion Rising

The Vagina Monologues

This Night of Mayhem and Creativity

International Women's Day

Women's Wednesday Workshops

Want to know something we love the most about these events? Nearly all of them are educational, support, advocacy, or fundraising for another organization dedicated to all the above. 

Guess what else? They do all of this with 2-3, part-time, student employees. 

Changing the world. No big deal. (Via UM WRC)

Rockstars. Ch-ch-check them out!

JWachal Photography, 2011.  Via here. 

Call to Action Day!

MISSOULIANS--

Are you excited for FIRST FRIDAY? You should be. You can check out all of the sweet happenin's on their blog here.

We're particularly excited about The Loft's  (119 Main Street, the door up is right next to the Downtown Dance Collective) exhibit of Wanderlust Artistry "Empowering Women and Honoring their Spirits."

Guess what?

We'll be there. Talking to all of you. Actually, we'll be all over downtown that night and we need a gaggle of equality-loving volunteers to help us out. 

Via http://womensstudies.byu.edu/news/417/

It'll be super simple! Between the hours of 5-8pm, can you spare a half hour to help us spread the word about the change to policy 703. You could also just come see us at Liquid Planet, too. But, we'd love to  swag you out ;)

Nick Childs, ASUM Social Media Manager

Email us at 703equality@gmail.com to sign up!

More Support, Growing Support

More and more of you continue to sign the Letter to the Commissioner and Board of Regents in support of changing policy 703. Here are just a few of the comments that have been added, for your reading pleasure;

Pattie added this;

"Thank you in advance for doing the right thing by strengthening 703."

Cassie said this;

"There is no excuse for not updating archaic policies such as this one. The Montana University System has the opportunity to set a precedent for inclusion."

And, Shelbi had this to say;

"Please pass this policy to protect all students, faculty, and staff at the most amazing universities in the country!"

We could not agree more; the Montana University System DOES have the most amazing colleges and universities in the country. In order to remain so, we must ensure that every person who steps onto university property is equal in their protections; it would be a shame to have our system defined by outdated policies and fear.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, "Same Love" vinyl cover 

The Equality of Rights

"Share" if you agree!

Supporter of the Day; Norma

Norma said this about changing Non-Discrimination policy 703 on our Facebook Page;

"One of the longest investments, the USA makes is the bringing up of our children. This should be done in such a way, that everyone no matter their background, is given a chance. Discrimination and hate have no business in our schools. I am with those of the 703 Movement, because I live it everyday!"

Carol had this to say when she signed the online letter to the Commissioner and Board of Regents;

"Every [person] should feel safe and welcome and free from discrimination!"

Being the mover-and-shaker that she is, Aylinn Kapukui Inmon posted this today;

"I have personally bore witness to the torment discrimination wrought on people who never deserved it. Standing up against it one incident at a time only does so much good. Stand together with our elected leaders in ASUM and MAS and lend your voice. Sign the letter and make it known that discrimination against Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation will not be tolerated at our school[s]."

We have been overwhelmed and extremely grateful for your support and desire to participate. Seriously, you are incredible people and I wish I could hug all of you.

Bryn's Story

Bryn Hagfors is a senior from Great Falls, Montana studying economics and political science. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking, and, whenever possible, reading. Bryn is also the vice president of ASUM.

I am straight. I always have been, and I always (I think it is very safe to assume) will be. I also happen to be a male. Oh, and did I mention I’m white? I think that means that if I were a flavor of ice cream, I’d be even more generic than vanilla; probably more like a chilled Greek yogurt. 

To me, none of my aforementioned personal information above has any real consequences. None of it reveals value judgments that I choose to make (except that I find Greek yogurt incredibly bland and rather disgusting). None of it means that I am right for being any of those things. And above all, none of it means that anyone else is wrong for not being any of those things.

Because of this, I simply cannot imagine what it would be like to have anything about me rejected systematically. I cannot fathom being written off or marginalized because of who I am. That is why, even as a straight man, I stand in firm solidarity with those not currently covered under MUS policy 703. This is why as an elected student leader I will be doing all that I can to get this policy changed.

Universities are not in the business of defining attraction. In fact, universities are not in the business of defining or perpetuating societal norms at all. Rather, universities are places of diversity; diversity of thought, political opinion, belief, ambition, and so much more. This makes me wonder: how does the Montana University System claim to promote this diversity while simultaneously denying equal protections to a community adding to it?

We all have an opportunity to do the right thing today. As students, faculty, staff, and friends of the Montana University System, we have the opportunity to advocate for our peers and friends so that they may realize the same protections that most of us enjoy. As a state university system, we have the opportunity to be a leader and signal our commitment to accepting all within our community. Perhaps most importantly, the Board of Regents has the opportunity to change its policies to reflect the culture of inclusion in which all universities strive to exist.  

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Special thanks to Bryn for his honesty, time, and willingness to share his thoughts with us.

If you are a Montana University System LGBTQAI or Ally student, staff,  Alumnus, or faculty, we want to share your story, too! 
Email us at 703equality@gmail.com

Supporter of the Day; Maxine Sugarman

After signing the Letter to the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Board of Regents, Maxine Sugarman had this to add;

"Higher education is crucial to the future of our state. Every student should feel safe from discrimination and hate."

And, check out what Debbie had to say;

 "Consider providing equal protections for all students and setting a positive example that other universities will follow; It is simply the right thing to do. "

Have you signed the letter? If not, click here! It takes 35 seconds (although, we were recently told that this was inaccurate; one student informed us that it only took her 20 seconds). Thanks!

Via Fair is Fair Montana. 2013.

Caitlin's Story

Caitlin began volunteering with Pride Foundation’s Montana efforts in 2006 and came on staff in 2011. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Montana. Caitlin was the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Missoula City Council in November 2011. She enjoys hiking, skiing, and riding her bike 100 miles or more for good causes. She can be reached at Caitlin@pridefoundation.org or 406.546.7017

Growing up in Nampa, Idaho, I didn’t know any out lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people. I finished high school in 2000 and attended the College of Idaho, which had a student body population of about 850. There was no gay-straight alliance at my high school and if there was at my college, I didn’t know about it. Besides, I was in a relationship with a guy I’d dated off and on since 8^th grade.  It wasn’t until I ended that relationship and came to Missoula to attend graduate school at the University of Montana that I felt I could truly come out.

I’ve thought back as to why Missoula, Montana, felt so much safer than home. My immediate family is not religious, and my mom is an alternative high school teacher turned college professor and very liberal. Even so, being LGBTQ was never talked about in my family, and I grew up stereotypically thinking that lesbians were women who looked like men or at least liked to play with trucks when they were little. I loved theater and was on the dance team in high school and college, so even though I’d felt same-sex attraction since I was 9 or 10, I didn’t think I could actually be gay. But in Missoula, there were lots of LGBTQ people, especially, it seemed to me, women. A lot of them held leadership positions in the nonprofit and business world.  There were also a lot of straight people with gay friends. It was normal, even acceptable, here. 

I think I began to see that coming out didn’t doom me to some sort of unsafe, horrible, or at least invisible life. I began volunteering with the Western Montana Gay & Lesbian Community Center (www.gaymontana.org) to edit their newsletter, which morphed into the statewide publication, Out Words. I helped review grants and scholarships for Pride Foundation (www.pridefoundation.org). As a master’s degree student at the School of Journalism, my professors knew about and generally supported my activism. By the time I finished my degree in 2007, I knew I wanted to be an activist more than a journalist, so I applied my writing skills to my first “adult” job doing marketing and communications for the YWCA Missoula (www.ywcamissoula.org). Working for the YWCA was life-changing. I developed strong relationships women (some LGBTQ) mentors and my self-confidence, something I’d always struggled with, grew immensely. If not for the YWCA, I would never have had the courage to run for political office and become the first openly LGBTQ member of the Missoula City Council.

Today, in addition to City Council, I work full time for Pride Foundation, the world’s largest LGBTQ community foundation serving Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Part of my job is to inspire a culture of generosity that can connect, strengthen, and develop the LGBTQ leaders of the future. Pride Foundation is the largest provider of LGBTQ scholarships in the nation, and last year we awarded nearly $20,000 to Montana students. These scholarships are crucial to students, many of whom grew up in a town similar to mine, where they had no role models.

Universities give students the chance to be exposed to all the beautiful diversity that exists in our world, and for them to discover who they are and how to live their values. In a day and age where LGBTQ youth are still four times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual peers, universities should serve as a light at the end of the dark tunnel that too often represents adolescence for members of our community. I ask the Montana Board of Regents to include sexual orientation and gender identity to its non-discrimination policy to show that our universities value all students, faculty, staff, and alumni, regardless of who they are or who they love. 

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Special thanks to Caitlin for her honesty, time, and willingness to share her experience with us.

If you are a Montana University System LGBTQAI or Ally student, staff,  Alumnus, or faculty, we want to share your story, too! Email us at 703equality@gmail.com

Adrienne's Story

We at 703 Equality want to thank Adrienne for her honesty, time, and willingness to put her experience out there for others to read.
If you are a Montana University System LGBTQAI or Ally student, staff,  Alumnus, or faculty, we want to share your story, too! Email us at 703equality@gmail.com

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Adrienne is a sophomore at the University of Montana studying Social Work and can be reached by email at Jacquelyn.adrienne.edwards@gmail.com.

Montana has some of the best people in the world, including the LGBTQAI community. I have never before come across a friendlier and open community that reaches out to those around them no matter the differences. As an ally I have had the chance to witness first hand from a point of view not many have the opportunity to access.

When people think of the LGBTQAI community they often form their opinion based on what they see in media, movies, and the press. The truth is these people are no different from any other group in Montana. The short time I have spent with this community has been the best time I have had in my life. They are open and caring people who accept everyone for who they are no matter their affiliation or identity.

As the Media Marketing Director of LAMBDA at the University of Montana I have met fantastic people who have the most wonderful views of the world.

They are accepting of those beyond their community, even more so than most, and that has made me strive to be a better person. It can be hard for people to accept those who are different than they are but the LGBTQAI community has shown me that reaching across boundaries and social differences is better than staying within the safety and comfort of their own borders. Boundaries build fear because we don’t know what is beyond the wall of our understanding, so we rely on rumors and whispers to tell us instead of finding out for ourselves what it is like on the other side.

The point is that we need to learn to understand that everyone is different and that being different is not wrong. I have learned that individuality and differences are what make the LGBTQAI community what it is; a wonderful and fantastic community to be a part of. Which is why the Montana University System needs to allow for basic human rights protections; to not do so is to deny safety to an amazing part of the state of Montana.

Supporter(s) of the Day; Alumni!

We here at 703 Equality have been very inspired by how engaged and interested the Montana University System Alumni are. Here's a fantastic example from Daniel Hinkle when he signed the letter to the Commissioner and Board of Regents;

"As an alumnus and former staff member of Montana State University - Bozeman, I strongly urge the the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Board of Regents to include gender identity and sexual orientation or preference to the Board of Regents Non-Discrimination Policy 703."

Another Alumnus from MSU had this to say;

"I am proud to be an open-minded Bobcat and Alumnus and support those students spearheading this initiative."

We are so grateful for our Alumni. You guys are incredible!

Supporter of the Day; Milly Allen

Check out what Milly had to say when she signed the letter to the Commissioner and Board of Regents;

"The Montana University System should be a safe space for all that attend; students who live on campus should feel at home. By not extending basic human rights to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the well being of students is compromised. Please include gender identity and sexual orientation/preference in Non-Discrimination Policy 703."

When we contacted Milly about sharing her comment on our blog, being the rockstar that she is, this was her response;

"I'd like to set a standard of people not being afraid to attach their name to their opinions, especially on issues like this. We shouldn't be judged for who we support!"

If you want to be a rockstar too, click here to sign the letter and stand for equality in the Montana University System!

See the rockstar glint in her eyes?

Jerry's Story

We at 703 Equality want to thank Jerry for his honesty, time, and willingness to put his experience out there for others to read.
If you are a Montana University System LGBTQAI or Ally student, staff, or faculty, we want to share your story, too! Email us at 703equality@gmail.com

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Jerry Wachal, 2013.
Jerry is a junior at the University of Motana studying journalism. More of his musiings can be found here, at http://mylifetowelcome.blogspot.com/

We all have something that defines us. Whether it be red hair, being a girl, a boy, having big ears, small feet, weird fingers; for me it was being gay. Something that has taken a lot of time to accept in not only myself but the others around me. Now I'm not here to bore you all with my tragique life of being a lonely gay boy in small town Montana. That's not my story, that's not what defines me. What defines me is the fact that I've grown from being a lonely gay boy in small town Montana, and only hope for others to grow as well.

By grow, I mean open up. Sure, growing up gay in a part of Montana was difficult, but I didn't let it get me down. I had been called names from the very uncreative fag, to the still very uncreative (however, a bit more creative than just the normal fag and queer,) Fairy Jerry. I had letters stuffed in to my locker telling me how what I was doing was wrong, and how I'm going to hell. I even had a pair of scissors thrown at me from a bus. Which I'm sure is not their actual use, except for when trying to hit queers on the side of the street.

However angry these things made me feel, however hurt I was by the bullying and tormenting of my high school peers, it only made me stronger. Cliche, I know, but it is  cliche for a reason. I went through some dark times back in high school, not unlike every other teen, especially one's struggling with finding themselves in a confined environment such as the one I was in. Yet, at the end of the day I still had amazing, supportive friends that helped me through a lot of it.

I didn't ever really get to experience much of the 'gay lifestyle' until I moved to Missoula to attend the University in the fall of 2011. Before, the closest I got to it were late nights of watching RuPaul's Drag Race and a Skrillex concert. It was not until I went to my first Lambda meeting where I felt that I had a place to feel accepted. I wasn't seen as weird, instead I found that most of the people there were more weird than I. It was releiving to know that I could geek out with people like me.

For the first time in my life I didn't have to be worried about finding friends because I was too flamboyant; I now had friends I was completely comfortable around and it was wonderful. It was all that I had been waiting for.

It was because of the University's Lambda Alliance that I got to see that, going back to the cliché's, it does get better. I didn't have to worry about being alone for the rest of my life. I had hope for my future now that I had friends that I could talk to about certain stuff. I had friends who looked out for me if there was a guy interested, and they showed me the way.

Living in Montana should be that way for every young Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered or Questioning adult. The Montana University System should be a safe place for all young LGBTQ adults, and they should see that they can be accepted no matter their sexual orientation or preference. It's true what your elementary school teachers always said; It's what's on the inside that counts.

So that's it. No sob story, no my life sucked because I was gay, no traqigue ending. Only a young adult who wants to see others flourish in a community like the Queer community in Missoula, to realize that life is… eh… not that bad, but it's better when you can be you.