After three months of grassroots organizing, city council hearings, public rallies, educational forums and signature gathering - hundreds and hundreds of Missoulians stood together on April 12 at the City Council Chambers in Missoula, Montana to pass the first city ordinance to extend equal rights and protections to the LGBT community. We are proud to join 129 other cities across this country and 13 states.
 
After 5.5 hours of testimony from the right, the left and the middle - the ordinance received a bi-partisan 10-2 vote with representation from every ward! No longer will GLBT Missoulians be fired from their job, denied housing or discriminated against in public accommodations without legal recourse.

 

THE NEXT STEP: Forward Montana will take this issue to the statewide level next. The Equality Squad will suit up statewide to build support around Equality. Over the course of the summer, Forward Montana will hit the road and begin working all over the state to ensure a win for Equality the 2011 legislature.

 

 
This is what Victory looks like! Local & national press:

Missoula City Council approves non-discrimination ordinance - Missoulian

Missoula passes equality ordinance - Great Falls Tribune

A Stand Against LGBT Discrimination in Big Sky Country - Human Rights Campaign - Back Story

Montana City OKs GLBT Protections - Boston Edge