Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lgbtq Rights topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Missoula callers replay March on Washington footage, urge meetings with elected officials on LGBTQ rights
Summary
Callers on a Missoula Community Access Television program discussed footage of the March on Washington, described discrimination against same-sex couples in Montana, and urged U.S. Sen. Max Baucus and Diane Sands to meet with local LGBTQ residents.
Missoula — Callers and the host on a Missoula Community Access Television program discussed a roughly 10-minute tape of the March on Washington and urged meetings with elected officials to address discrimination against gay and lesbian residents.
The program’s host said, “we're going to be showing, some footage, a short tape about 10 minutes of the March on Washington,” and credited the piece as “Produced by Joel Baird.”
The discussion focused on local impacts of national LGBTQ advocacy. Caller Catherine said same-sex couples in Montana are denied “economic rights benefits, tax benefits, and mortgage benefits” and urged broader public recognition of same-sex partnerships. Catherine also said she hoped environmental organizations would “turn about as fair play” and publicly endorse equal treatment.
Another caller, who identified himself as Max, characterized some national responses as “the usual homophobic dribble.” A caller recounted that Montana was listed “number 94 out of a 94” in a parade order during the March, and the host read an anecdote referencing a service member named “sergeant Jose Zuniga” to illustrate how personal stories can change attitudes.
Callers pressed for direct engagement from elected officials. The host said, “when, when Senator Baucus, calls you up or Diane Sands up and says, I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to meet with you, but I'm going to fly out to Missoula and meet with you at a public meeting,” callers would be satisfied; Sen. Max Baucus was mentioned by name as a target for outreach during the program. Diane Sands was referenced by name but did not speak on the broadcast.
No formal actions or commitments from elected officials occurred on the program. The host closed by encouraging listeners to tune in again and noting Missoula Community Access Television would run another show in two weeks.
The conversation combined local anecdotes, national footage and callers’ requests for elected officials to engage directly with Missoula’s LGBTQ community.
