Forward Montana Foundation

 

Forward Montana Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit. We're a homegrown, statewide, youth-led, grassroots organization. We're teaching young people how to become leaders. We're taking civics back to the streets to register and mobilize young voters. We're helping educate our communities about upcoming elections.

As you can probably tell, democracy is our jam, our bread and our butter. Our maple bacon donut if you will.

Part of our mission is to use this civic perspective to pursue LGBTQ equality in Montana. In 2010, we helped organize folks to pass a Missoula citywide ordinance to protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination in housing, public accommodation, and the workplace. This year we have dedicated our time to passing a similar ordinance in our sister city of Bozeman, MT.

Towards this goal, our team of young, passionate volunteers and interns have gathered 2739 signatures in just 8 months in rain, snow, sleet, and hail. That's 7% of the population of Bozeman! Along the way, we have heard heartbreaking stories of those who are closeted at work or have been refused housing because of who they love or how they identify.

We are excited to announce that on May 12th, the Bozeman City Commission voted unanimously in support of passing an LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination ordinance-- passing the NDO provisionally. The next and final vote will take place on June 2nd and we're hopeful that Bozeman's policies will reflect the hearts of most of its citizens and that those who spoke out will finally be protected!

 

We know that it takes more than passion and energy to create culture change and that's what we ask your help for today. Our efforts will continue in Bozeman as we strive to help educate and encourage discussion with our friends, businesses, family, and neighbors about what it means to live in an LGBTQ inclusive community. And our work does not stop there.

Forward Montana Foundation will continue our fight for equality in Billings, Montana. Two hours east of and 3 times bigger than Bozeman, Billings has already proven to be a greater challenge. On the same night as Bozeman's historic vote, the Billings City Council nearly tabled a non-discrimination ordinance for another year. The crisis was narrowly averted by a tie vote, but the situation was too close for comfort.

In the coming months, Forward Montana Foundation will be collecting signatures in Billings, hosting dialogues, speakers and trainings in Bozeman, and continuing to empower our peers to be stewards of diversity across Montana.

To do this, we need you! Please consider giving to Forward Montana Foundation today to help support these efforts!