The History of Montana Pride Network

Following the Pride Celebration in Missoula, summer 2003, Sandy Shull recruited a group to explore the possibility of sharing the responsibility for the yearly Pride Celebration with Pride, Inc. Interested people from Missoula and Helena came together October 5, 2003 to determine a course of action, and in a facilitated strategic planning session, they developed a purpose and a direction for a new organization.

There was consensus to continue the Celebration in Missoula once again in 2004, and the name, Montana Pride Celebration Action Group was chosen. This was an ad hoc group organized for the purpose of managing the Pride Celebration on an annual basis. For the next two years, Pride, Inc. acted as the fiscal agent due to its 501 C (3) status.

Celebrations were planned for Missoula in 2004 and Helena in 2005 as the planning group developed a set of by-laws. With two successful Celebrations completed, and money in the bank, they chose a new name, the Montana Pride Network and applied for non-profit status. Pride, Inc. supported this transition, and the enthusiasm from LGBTIQ and Two Spirit citizens and generous support from the larger state community ensured independent status.

The Action Group chose members to serve as functioning board officers for the non-profit application, and on April 15, 2006, Jacquie Gibson, acting Chair facilitated a strategic planning/board orientation session at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena. Armed with by-laws, a vision, mission, and purpose, the board met in the first annual meeting at the Celebration in June 2006 in Helena, electing new officers with Jayce Cox of Helena, as the first elected Chair of the Montana Pride Network.

At this point, an enthusiastic group in Billings agreed to facilitate the Celebration for 2007 and 2008, demonstrating remarkable fund-raising skills for Celebration entertainment and local events. The Network intention is to move the Celebration to a new community every two years, scheduled for the full weekend beginning on the third Friday in June. Kalispell will be the site for the weekend event in 2009 and 2010.

On a snowy day in April 2008, the Network hosted the first Summit for the organizations of and service providers to Montana LGBTIQ members, with more than 50 people attending. The consensus of this meeting led to an important recommitment to the ongoing support of activities important to the Montana LGBTIQ and Two Spirit community.

The Montana Pride Network Board continues to plan statewide events for the LGBTIQ and Two Spirit communities and recently upgraded its website which will serve as its primary communication avenue.