Bozeman Is Totally Gay

Back in July, seven same-sex couples filed suit against the state of Montana along with help from the ACLU.

The couples filed the lawsuit against Montana because it refuses to provide legal protections to same-sex couples and their families.  In the lawsuit, the ACLU rightly claims that the state is, “in violation of the Montana Constitution’s rights of privacy, dignity and the pursuit of life’s basic necessities and its guarantees of equal protection and due process.”  The American Civil Liberties Union continues, stating, “The goal of this lawsuit is ensure that same-sex couples are able to protect their families with the same kind of legal protections that opposite-sex couples are offered through marriage.  Because there is a constitutional amendment in Montana barring marriage for same-sex couples, the couples in the lawsuit are seeking the protection of state-recognized domestic partnerships, similar to those in place in several other states.”  Hear, hear!

For additional information about the case, including biographies of the plaintiffs and links to videos of the plaintiffs, visit the ACLU’s site here.

Here’s the good part: according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, “Bozeman Mayor Jeff Krauss wants his city to set an example for other cities across Montana by being the first to pass a resolution supporting the seven same-sex couples suing the state for the same rights as married couples.”

In a charming and well-written article by Chronicle staff writer Amanda Ricker, we learn that Mayor Krauss says, “These couples are really walking out on a limb to put their faces forward, to put their stories forward, and I think they deserve the support.”

It gets better.  According the Chronicle, “All five Bozeman City Commissioners have said they support the resolution.”  In the same article, Bozeman Commissioner Chris Mehl goes on record, stating, “We haven’t had the public vote — but that’s the expectation — that it will pass unanimously.”

I told you the article was charming; here comes the charming part!  Mike Long and Rick Parker are one of the couples suing the state.  The couple lives in Bozeman.  Ricker writes that, Long, 56, a hospital laboratory supervisor, and Parker, 40, a mechanical engineer, have been together for eight years. Together, they’re raising Kevin, Long’s 17-year-old son from a previous relationship.  Kevin plays football with Mayor Krauss’ son.

“As teenagers do, they brought the parents together,” Long said. “We’ll probably be watching the game together Friday night and we’re proud of what he’s doing.”

Parker said they warned Krauss that supporting their lawsuit might be “political suicide.” Known as a “cowboy town,” Bozeman seemed the unlikely place to be the first to get behind their cause, Parker said, but he’s pleased that the city is “stepping up to the plate.  We’re very proud to have (Krauss) as a friend.”

Krauss said he believes the state would be wasting taxpayer money by fighting the same-sex couples.  And, he said, “It would actually be a rejection of the values that the city of Bozeman has.”

The city commission is expected to consider the resolution during its regular meeting on Sept. 27.  If they pass the resolution as Commissioner Chris Mehl speculated that they would, Bozeman would be the first city in Montana to back the same-sex couples.  That would obviously hold massive ramifications for the ACLU suit as whole.  Stay tuned!