HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-09-25 Public Comment - I. Liang - Organization Sign On Letter- Pride FlagFrom:Pride House
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Organization Sign On Letter- Pride Flag
Date:Tuesday, July 8, 2025 1:45:52 PM
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To: The Bozeman City Commission
As a local organization leader, I would like to express our support for the City of Bozeman to
officially recognize the Pride flag as an emblem of the City of Bozeman.
We recognize that the Pride flag represents dignity, belonging, and visibility for those who havehistorically experienced exclusion. This is a matter of human rights, not politics.
We request that the Bozeman City Commission adopt the Pride flag as an official city emblem,
reflecting a commitment to equality and demonstrating that everyone—regardless of who they loveor how they identify—is valued, respected, and belongs here.
Our organization, Pride House, serves Bozeman LGBTQ+ youth. For our youth, the Pride flag isn’tjust a symbol, it’s a lifeline that signals to them that they belong, are seen, and in today’s world,
more than ever, that they are safe. In a survey of our youth conducted by the Trevor Project a coupleyears back, when asked, “What makes an environment affirming?” The same answer came up againand again: the presence of visible Pride flags. The same survey reported that 56% of MontanaLGBTQ+ youth feel that their communities are unaccepting of them. Today, that number hasincreased to 63%. We’ve made meaningful progress in recent years and right now we have theopportunity to continue that progress. We are proud that in 2021 the City Commission made thedecision to make Bozeman one of the few cities in Montana and nationwide where the Pride flag wasflown year-round. For our youth, seeing the flag on public property can be the difference betweenfeeling isolated and feeling like they belong. That visible symbol was invaluable.
This matters for our city because city-wide institutional support is integral to supporting the dignityof all residents. In the same way, inclusion requires intentional action and purposeful visibility.While proponents of the new law argue that banning the Pride flag is a sign of neutrality, the realityis that our youth are already facing heightened hostility. 92% of our youth have reported that recentpolitics have negatively impacted their wellbeing. They are living in a time where on the nationaland state stage, they are demonized because of their identities; their lived experiences are dismissedfor political gain; and their humanity—and the impact of harmful policies on their wellbeing, theirsafety, and their future—is callously ignored. In moments like these, silence is not neutral. Silence isa deliberate disregard for the harm already done and continuing to be done to our communities.
We know from research and experience that inclusive environments reduce suicide rates andimprove mental health outcomes. That’s why all of us at Pride House are asking the Bozeman CityCommission to continue the progress in shaping Bozeman into a city where our youth can trulythrive— a city affirms their dignity, values their contributions and shows them that their communityand their neighbors are willing to stand with them. This moment matters because our youth arewatching and they deserve a city that proudly says: You belong here.
Sincerely,
Irene Liang
Business/organization: Pride House