Pride Foundation

Workshop on welcoming in Bitterroot, MT

A family affair: (clockwise from top left) Tammy, Robert, Kathy and Rachel

How do you build community in a way that is inclusive and welcoming? An upcoming workshop in Bitterroot Valley brings together the expertise of regional and national PFLAG representative to share their experience and to help other groups avoid some of the pitfalls of community organizing.

Kathy Reim, a Pride Foundation board member and regional PFLAG director for the Pacific Northwest...

Documenting inequality in Anchorage

The Alaska LGBT Community Survey project needs your help documenting inequality in Anchorage

The Alaska LGBT Community Survey is a project of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans community of Alaska (plus our friends & allies) to conduct a statewide survey of our community. We’ll also use it to solicit case histories to document recent experiences of discrimination, harassment, and violence due to sexual orientation and gender identity bias.

In August 2009, Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan vetoed an ordinance to amend the city’s nondiscrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He argued that there was no quantifiable evidence to prove that LGBTQ...

Re-thinking LGBTQ domestic violence in Alaska

Did you know that domestic violence happens in same-sex relationships at about the same rate as in straight relationships?

Have you ever considered how homophobia and the lack of legal protection from discrimination might discourage an LGBTQ victim of domestic violence from getting help for fear of being “outed” or did you know that the most common type of male-to-male rape is the rape of a man who is perceived to be gay by a heterosexual man?

These and other facts are highlighted in the curriculum, “Think/Re-Think: Domestic Violence in Bi, Trans, Lesbian...

Coffee talk with Eugene LGBTQ leaders

I have to admit that part of what attracted me to this job at Pride Foundation was the travel I’d get to do around my beloved state of Oregon. I knew I’d get to have really great conversations with super-interesting, diverse, smart, community-minded people who are making great things happen. I love a good road trip!

So my first official Pride Foundation road trip took me to Eugene. In two days I experienced more of Eugene than I had in my entire life. First stop, Eugene Coffee Company, where owners Sue and Adelka (great supporters of progressive causes) made me feel like an old friend within 5 minutes of my arrival.

Over delicious coffee and a breakfast cookie (I’m an adult, I can have cookies for breakfast if I want),...

U of Alaska votes for anti-discrimination policy

University of Alaska Anchorage students Amada Arredondo and Alyse Mondok signed up to testify before the university's Board of Regents.

On February 18, the University of Alaska Board of Regents voted to include “sexual orientation” in their nondiscrimination policy by a vote of 8-2 – a critical step forward for LGBTQ rights in Alaska.

“It’s long overdue,” said Amada...

Straight Not Narrow: Ally underwrites Missoula event

Jim Royan of Missoula spends his free time hunting at his family ranch in northeastern Montana and volunteering for the local Republican Party. At first glance, he’s perhaps not a man one would assume supports equal rights for the LGBTQ community. But straight allies come from all walks of life, and Jim is no exception.

Jim has been a friend of mine since we connected through our mutual passion for YWCA Missoula’s work to empower women, but I was truly...

Idaho youth ‘Create Change’ in Minneapolis

Idaho youth ready for take off! (Photo courtesy of Gary Bell)

One word popped immediately into Boisean Gary Bell’s mind when describing his recent experience attending the National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change conference in Minneapolis, Minn.: “Mind-bending!”

Organized by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force,...

One Bad, One Good: Take action on LGBT legislation in Montana

John Blake of Montana Equality Now and activist Bobbie Zenker

I am writing you today to ask all Montanans who care about equality to help in two ways:

1)   Educate yourself about Montana House Bills 516 and 514 – both of which have significant impacts on the LGBT community in Montana and on the movement for equal rights.

2)   Email your elected officials (links provided) to share your opinions about these two Bills – along with your hopes and expectations as...

Resistance to GSAs in Eastern Washington

photo credit: graur razvan ionut

UPDATE March 9: Discussion about establishing GSAs is NOT on the agenda for the Feb 23 Kennewick School Board Meeting. The discussion will take place March 9 at 5:30pm.

High school is hard enough as it is, so it troubles me to hear that there is resistance from the Kennewick School Board to establishing a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) with official recognition and support of the Associated Student Body (ASB) and administrators.

If...

Montana Diary: Amazing LGBTQ leaders!

L-R: Brian Ecklund, Cathy Cooney, Caitlin Copple, DJ Lopez, Bob Engel at the Congregational Community Church in Kalispell Jan. 25

In the past 10 days, I’ve been hanging out with LGBTQ Montanans and our allies in Butte, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Helena, and I’ve been amazed at their generosity and warmth as they welcome Pride Foundation in Montana into their communities and lives. Over a drink at the historic Finlen Hotel in Butte, America, the town which electrified the...