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.