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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-25 Public Comment - S. Owen - Adopt Pride Flags as Official City FlagFrom:Stasia Owen To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Adopt Pride Flags as Official City Flag Date:Monday, July 7, 2025 3:53:01 PM 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. Hello, I am a homeowner on the west side of Bozeman in Valley West and a business owner in west Bozeman. I work at a mental health therapist who specializes in trauma recovery work,which includes working with the LGBTQIA community. I am listed amongst recommended providers for LGBTQIA clients by BridgerCare and other doctors offices around town. Mycommunity, both personal and professional, includes people in the LGBTQIA community and this is an issue close to both my heart and the hearts of so many that I love and support aroundme. I have been in the greater Gallatin Valley for the past 25 years and have appreciated the mostly inclusive nature of our mostly welcoming community. Two of my close friends wereon the front page of the Chronicle as the first couple to take advantage of being able to exercise the basic human right of marrying the partner of their choice. I've been to queerweddings on the top of Lone Peak and celebrated queer families growing and expanding with more rights than in very recent history. I've celebrated the joys and accomplishments of myqueer friends, co-workers, and fellow community members with the knowledge that I will not only support, but always will stand up for and fight for the rights of everyone, including myLGBTQIA fellow humans. How we as a community and as individuals treat and relate to our queer neighbors is how we will signal we treat ALL people in Bozeman. When I see a Pride flag flying in my neighborhood or around town I feel safer and breathedeeper knowing that there are fellow allies and humans out there that support ALL people having human rights. I have come to know neighbors as I walk my dog around myneighborhood simply by engaging with them about their Pride Flag and through expressing my gratitude that their flag signals safety to me and my queer family, friends, and neighbors. Iknow that when I host queer loved-ones or friends from out of town, they feel safer in my neighborhood and around town as they see the Pride flag flown to represent inclusion andhuman rights for ALL humans. If Bozeman chooses to not adopt the Pride Flag, this sends a dangerous message of hate and exclusion that our community does not want to represent. Not adopting the Pride Flag wouldtag us as a community sympathetic to hate groups and those wanting to steal rights away from those that have fought for them for so long. I worry that eventually this would change thedemographics of the community and we would develop a reputation akin to Northern Idaho or the Flathead Valley widely known for hate groups. I urge you the city commission to approve the Pride flag as an official city flag. I urge this tobe done unanimously and without hesitation on any member's part. Sincerely, Stasia M. Owen, MS, NCC, LCPC, SEP she/her/hersMetta Counseling Services, LLC 2415 West Main Street, Suite 2 Bozeman, MT 59718 (406) 579-4248 PLEASE NOTE the following important information regarding the use of email: Although my computers are password protected, emails are not encrypted. Therefore, I cannotguarantee confidentiality of any email communication. If you choose to communicateconfidential information with me via email, I will assume that you have made an informeddecision and I will view it as your agreement to take the risk that email may beintercepted. ALSO, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT EMAIL IS NEVER AN APPROPRIATEMEANS OF COMMUNICATION FOR EMERGENCIES. If you require immediate oremergency assistance of any kind, please call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, orcontact The Help Center at (406) 586-3333. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this transmission may beprivileged, confidential and protected from disclosure under Federal Confidentiality Laws (42CFR Part 2 and 45 CFR Parts 160-164). Any dissemination, distribution, or duplication of thiscommunication is strictly prohibited without the consent of the writer. If you are not theintended recipient, or you have received this communication in error, please notify the senderimmediately at the email address above or delete this email.