Latex & Lace 2013

Click here for more info: CTRS Training February 2013

And if you’re interested in becoming a testing associate for AIDS Outreach, please email info@aidsoutreachmt.org

Michigan Awards Nearly $2.5M For HIV Prevention (detroit.cbslocal.com)
Rollout of provider-initiated HIV testing (africanpress.me)
Multiple factors affect HIV prognosis, study shows (yaledailynews.com)
Need for education in the prison system imperative (kaieteurnewsonline.com)
Rapid HIV testing first (theage.com.au)

Poll: Should Legislators Remove Language in Montana Law That States Homosexuality is a Crime?

Feb2 by D Gregory Smith

The answer, of course, is “yes”. Vote here.

Teaser Video From Montana Pride 2012

Feb1 by D Gregory Smith

Do you see yourself?

Wyoming: “The Inequality State”

Jan31 by D Gregory Smith

Wyoming’s latest opportunity to prove that it’s state motto is even partially true has dissolved.

The “Equality State” has rejected even domestic partnerships for same-sex partners after bringing it to the House floor yesterday. From the Casper Star-Tribune:

Seal of Wyoming (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Wyoming House has shot down a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to create domestic partnerships carrying most of the legal rights of conventional marriage.

The House voted 35-to-24 against the bill. It marked the first time that pro-gay legislation reached a full floor debate in the state Legislature.

Proponents of the bill said that it would grant same-sex couples as well as other citizens a way to share their property and make health care decisions for each other.

Opponents warned that the bill threatened to open the state to legal action seeking to force it to approve same-sex marriage.

A separate bill cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that would outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. That bill now heads to the full Senate.

Wyoming, the state where Matthew Shepard was tragically murdered- now has an opportunity to outlaw discrimination. I will be delighted to see it happen- but it doesn’t seem very likely at this point.

Sad. If I were a Wyoming legislator, I’d introduce a bill to change the motto to “The Inequality State”.

Wyoming Domestic Partnership Bill Passes Out Of Committee (dgsmith.org)
Wyoming House defeats domestic partnership bill (trib.com)
Wyoming Lawmakers Kill Domestic Partnerships But Advance Nondiscrimination Protections (thinkprogress.org)
Equality State Kills Equality Bill (huffingtonpost.com)

Montana LGBTQ Directory 2013

Jan30 by D Gregory Smith

Caitlin Copple of Pride Foundation has compiled a list of Montana LGBTQ service providers/organizations as a reference list. I will post it here, but I have also made it permanently available on the pages bar under the title.

To access the Directory click here:
MT LGBTQ Directory 2013

If you have any revisions/additions, please email caitlin@pridefoundation.org

Having an LGBTQ Community Event? There’s Money Available! (dgsmith.org)
About the B in LGBTQ (pflaglubbock.org)

Please Share Your Story With Fair is Fair MT

Jan29 by D Gregory Smith

The Fair is Fair campaign, a project of the ACLU of Montana, is dedicated to increasing public support for domestic partnerships by telling the stories of real couples who have been denied equal protection because their relationships are not legally recognized.

We are looking for same-sex couples who are willing to share their stories about how they have been denied basic protections afforded to other families.

If you are in a committed relationship with a same-sex partner and you have experienced difficulties (tax problems, pension issues, problems related to caring for children or making medical decisions for your family, or any other types of difficulties) because your relationship isn’t legally recognized, please e-mail me at niniab@aclumontana.org.

All communications will be handled as confidential by the ACLU.

Right now, loving, committed same-sex couples and their children still don’t have the protections they need to live their own lives in Montana. The ACLU has brought a lawsuit, Donaldson and Guggenheim v. State of Montana, to win equal protection for same-sex couples. Court cases are important, but to win lasting fairness for gay and lesbian couples we need to convince not just the courts but also the general public that Montanans need domestic partnerships.

Please don’t pass up this opportunity to tell your story and to help Fair is Fair change hearts and minds.

Montana Supreme Court Allows Domestic Partnership Case for Same-Sex Couples To Move Forward (dgsmith.org)
Personal Finance Guide for LGBT | AptusInsurance.com (aptusinsurance.com)
Pride Foundation Scholar Helps Draft Montana Civil Unions Bill (dgsmith.org)
Same-sex Marriage a Boost for Wedding Business (hispanicbusiness.com)
ACLU: Federal court declares ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ unconstitutional (with video of Edie Windsor) (miamiherald.typepad.com)
Prosecutorial Discretion for Same-Sex Couples Affirmed (lawprofessors.typepad.com)

Ellen DeGeneres Coming To Montana?

Jan29 by D Gregory Smith

Watch this:

And then share it.
Let’s make this happen!

Pride Foundation Gathering In Billings tomorrow

Jan24 by D Gregory Smith

Leaders from two of the nation’s largest gay rights funders will help raise money for students and organizations in Montana at a fundraiser at Corby Skinner’s historic “Castle” on Friday, January 25 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Kris Hermanns, the Executive Director of the Pride Foundation, and Tim Sweeney, CEO and President of the Gill Foundation, will speak about the state of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality movement in Montana and the impact of recent marriage equality wins in the region.

For more information, to RSVP (invite yourself!), go to the Facebook event page here.

Pride Foundation Named One of Top Twelve Nonprofits (dgsmith.org)
Pride Foundation Scholar Helps Draft Montana Civil Unions Bill (dgsmith.org)
Tim Sweeney, Kris Hermanns to Attend Billings Pride Foundation Benefit (dgsmith.org)
Having an LGBTQ Community Event? There’s Money Available! (dgsmith.org)

Montana Jobless Rate Low

Jan18 by D Gregory Smith

Montana’s unemployment rate continues to fall- to 5.7%.

unemployment (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)

“Montana starts 2013 with a strong economy that has been adding jobs and gaining wages for over two years,” said Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy. “Although the national economy faces risks and uncertainty arising from federal tax and spending levels, I am confident that Montana’s economy will have the momentum and resilience to continue growth in the next year. Montana will continue to outperform the nation, with lower unemployment than the national average.”