New Big Sky nonprofit shares Pride Week plans 

Sidewalk chalk, variety show and pride march planned for late June 

By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR 

One year ago, Big Sky OUT did not exist.  

When LGBTQ+ Pride Month rolled around last June, Big Sky’s only queer-focused initiative was a small, informal group of friends called “Big Sky Pride,” who decided to organize a gay pride march.  

The initiative blossomed.  

Now, Big Sky OUT is a registered nonprofit focused on making Big Sky a place “where individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions can thrive,” according to its mission statement. Big Sky OUT has a five-member board and has planned a four-day schedule of events for Pride Week 2024.  

Board member Taylor McCaslin said strong participation in last year’s pride march fueled the community’s desire to keep momentum going as “a legit organization.” Nonprofit status has helped them gain funding and support. 

“I love Big Sky OUT,” said board member Morgan Heckerd. “I’m so glad it exists.” 

McCaslin, Heckerd and Big Sky OUT founder Brit Dierch have all moved to Big Sky in the past three years. They’ve already felt a change.  

“When I first showed up, I didn’t feel like there was any queer community,” Heckerd said. “I knew that there were people who were queer… but there was no cohesive bond to bring the community together for certain events.”  

McCaslin agreed, and believes Big Sky OUT has created that unifying space. “It’s helped us connect with each other and find the larger group… Queer people are everywhere, you just have to find them,” he said. 

When Diersch began forming the nonprofit, she had concerns about turnover within Big Sky OUT’s leadership, knowing the transient tendency of young folks in Big Sky. But she’s found a solid team, and perhaps the organization will provide another reason to stay. 

“Everyone that’s a part of Big Sky OUT right now just has a really big passion for maintaining a queer community in Big Sky,” Diersch said.  

Pride Week schedule; Zooey Zephyr and Erin Reed to visit June 29 

At the end of June, Big Sky OUT will host a multi-day celebration of the queer community. Organizers believe this will be the first Big Sky’s first-ever official Pride Week.  

All events are open to the public, including non-queer allies who wish to support Big Sky OUT’s purpose. Big Sky OUT is still looking for volunteers for the pride march and variety show. 

On Wednesday, June 26, Cowboy Coffee will host a poster-making event at 6 p.m. during the Big Sky Farmers Market.  

Before Music in the Mountains on Thursday, June 27, Big Sky OUT and its allies will test their sidewalk-chalking skills in a “decorate the town” event around Len Hill Park from 4 to 6 p.m. 

On Friday, June 28, Big Sky OUT will host a Queer Variety Show at 8 p.m. at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center.  

“This is going to be all sorts of local queer talent,” Diersch explained. “It’s going to be comedians and singers, and burlesque dancers, belly dancers, drag performances. As far as we’re aware of, it’s the first drag show—or show with drag in it—to happen in Big Sky… We’re very, very excited about that.” 

The week will culminate on Saturday, June 29. 

Big Sky OUT’s pride march will begin at 2:30 p.m. in Len Hill Park, after face painting and poster-making at 1:30. The march will follow a different route this year, based at Len Hill Park and looping around Town Center.  

After the march, a pair of guest speakers—Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr and her fiancée, journalist and activist Erin Reed—will speak to the Big Sky crowd. Both Zephyr and Reed are trans women, and well-known public advocates of the queer community. 

After Zephyr and Reed, Big Sky OUT will host a local market featuring participating businesses and allies, and a raffle with items donated by supportive local businesses.  

At 6 p.m. that Saturday evening, Gallatin Roller Derby will perform a bout at Len Hill Park—the event was planned independently through the Big Sky Community Organization for the same day, but the Big Sky OUT board is pleased by the overlapping plans—the athletes are going to join the pride march on roller skates.  

“Roller derby has historically been a very queer organization,” McCaslin said. “A lot of lesbians tend to participate in roller derby… It was one of those unplanned, but beautiful intersectionalities between the two groups that I think resonated with both of our organizations.” 

Safety and support 

Big Sky OUT recognizes the bomb threats that impacted Bozeman’s recent Pride Week. 

“That was something that we were obviously very heartbroken to see, but I think further cements… the importance of doing pride in a small community like ours,” McCaslin said.  

“We don’t let the hate stop us from continuing,” Heckerd said. 

Big Sky OUT is working with the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office to ensure a safety plan. Sheriff’s deputies will be on hand during the march to keep the peace. 

McCaslin said it has been welcoming to see a surprisingly large, diverse group, including non-queer allies, rally behind Big Sky OUT’s efforts. He said Big Sky OUT has not experienced any reason to feel threatened. 

Diersch said Big Sky OUT’s goal is for everyone in Big Sky to feel safe to exist in the way they want to exist. She said the queer community is an identity and a lifestyle—not a political issue—and members are not going to change their lives in response to disapproval from the outside.  

“We just want our community to be accepting, and vice versa, we need to be accepting to others too,” Diersch said. Echoing remarks made by leader Ray Black at last year’s pride march, Diersch said Big Sky OUT aims to respond to hate by showing love and respect.  

Speaking on a Zoom call with EBS, McCaslin pointed out his virtual background: a photo of Lone Mountain, with stickers showing his pronouns (He/Him) and a pride flag. 

“I am very proud to live in this beautiful place… we do have pride in where we live, in who we are in our community, and I think that is the heart of Big Sky OUT,” McCaslin said.  

For supporters who don’t identify with the queer community, Diersch said it’s important for communities to show support.  

“I really think breaking through that silence is very important, even though it’s really hard for people sometimes. It’s really the only way we know if there’s support,” Diersch said. “… Because unfortunately, silence does leave a lot of room for us queer folk to sometimes assume the worst. We don’t really know if we’re supported, and we feel like we have to be quieter in some situations because we’re not sure if we’re safe.” 

McCaslin said a pride flag or a little sticker goes a long way—Big Sky OUT offers stickers to local businesses that say “Everyone is welcome here, #supportlocal,” and those can be picked up at the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. 

He also joked that allies can “silently donate” to the nonprofit if they wish to show support in a non-public way. 

Heckerd said it’s valuable for allies to stay curious and educated.  

“It is just so nice to be surprised by someone knowing anything about the queer community, if they are not themselves queer,” she said.  

Local organizations step up 

The group praised the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center and its executive director, John Zirkle, for being “overwhelmingly helpful and supportive,” Heckerd said.  

The variety show, a historic evening for Big Sky, would not be possible without Zirkle’s willingness to host it on the WMPAC stage, they agreed.  

“WMPAC is thrilled to participate in Pride month in Big Sky,” Zirkle wrote to EBS, “and we are so excited to support Big Sky OUT in their mission to create spaces that foster a vibrant and inclusive LGTBQIA+ community.” 

“We love John,” Diersch said.   

They also credit the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation for supporting the group “since day one” as they worked to form the nonprofit, Diersch said. Big Sky OUT holds meetings at YCCF’s Social Impact Hub.  

Diersch said BASE has been donating space and hosting events since the beginning. Cowboy Coffee has opened their doors, Blue Moon Bakery has donated pizza, and the Hungry Moose has donated hot chocolate for winter events.  

“So many businesses in town right now are giving us donations,” she said.  

One year ago, on a sunny Thursday afternoon, a colorful mob marched past commuters and into Town Center. Unexpecting drivers, many of them visitors or non-resident workers, honked their horns and waved. Most signals appeared to be accepting, joyful and clear. Leaders took note. 

As Pride Week returns this June, Big Sky will have another chance to welcome its own.