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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-25 Public Comment - D. Stuker - Public Comment - Pride FlagFrom:Donald Stuker To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment - Pride Flag Date:Tuesday, July 8, 2025 9:10:53 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. To The Bozeman City Commission, My name is Donald Stuker, and I am a tax paying property owner in Bozeman. I split my time between Bozeman and Chinook, MT. I am an attorney, business owner, and a member ofQueer Bozeman’s Board of Directors. I am a proud gay man and a drag queen. Being visibly queer in Bozeman isn’t easy. As a drag queen, I routinely face threats against my person. I’ve lived for years with the reality that at any time, my car, my home, or my lifemay be damaged or destroyed by someone taking issue with who I am. Every year, I help raise tens of thousands of dollars, in Bozeman, for charitable causes such as queerscholarships, the local food bank, HRDC, and many other charitable organizations. I do this as a drag queen – as a producer - and then at the end of the night, I leave my shows, myvenues, and I get in an uber – because I’m afraid my car will get damaged if someone sees me getting in or out of it. I make two people walk me to my uber – because I’m afraid I’ll beassaulted if I’m walking alone. I get home and I collapse in relief – because that night wasn’t the night someone decided to invade our bar and assault or kill my performers or patrons. That is what it’s like to be visibly gay in this city. It’s scary. It has been scary for a long time. Why? Because elements of this valley are under the impression that people like medon’t have a right to exist. To marry. To hold jobs. To live. Now, I say all of this because it illustrates the two sides of the argument you’re faced with tonight– one side just trying to affirm our right to exist, and another side claiming we have nosuch right. It can be dressed up as neutrality, it can be called many things, but at the end of the day opponents to our flag don’t hate the rainbow – they hate those of us residing under it. They will do anything they can to erase us – to erase our communities. Because if we don’t “exist” in society, then it becomes easier to ensure we don’t exist at all. Make no mistake, thatis what HB 819 was intended to do; it was intended to contribute to the erasure of queer community, queer rights, and queer existence. The bill’s sponsor even admitted in the HouseJudiciary hearing that the bill would allow the flying of confederate flags as “historic”, but he rebuffed the idea that the Pride flag was considered historic, instead labeling it a politicalviewpoint or ideology. What is political about telling people like me that we have a right to exist? That we’re welcome in the city of Bozeman? Our existence shouldn’t be up to a rulingparty’s ideology – it should be affirmed in every action taken by our government at every level. So what does any of this have to do with you? Well, you commissioners have the ability tostand up and carve out a place for queer people to exist in Bozeman. While flying the Pride flag might seem a small thing, to members of this community who are as scared as I am mostdays, it would show us that you aren’t content to sit by and watch us be erased. That you will stand up for the residents of your city and say, “No. Bozeman will not be complicit in theerasure of the queer community.” I’ll grant you that staying silent on this issue would be easier – but remember, silence only ever benefits the oppressor, never the oppressed. I urge you, put the matter back on the agenda, take up the issue, and pass it. Make it so thatthe Pride flag can again be a symbol of hope for the queer residents of Bozeman. Thank you.