[news]
n B s l 2012 4 Al
Stepping up Back from D.C., a gay rights activist prepares for session by Jessica Mayrer
2012 FESTIVAL RELEASE AT 1:00 & 4:00 1ST T IME RELEASE FOR FES TIVAL BEERS!
SATURDAY, OCT. 6
CARAS PARK
MISSOULA, MT 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM LIVE MUSIC:
JOHN FLORIDIS s THE GROWLERS s CHELE BANDULU s KUNG FU KONGRESS OVER 20 MBA BREWERIES
U
OVER 60 MONTANA-MADE BEERS
COLLECTIBLE TASTING GLASS TO SAMPLE ALL YOUR FAVORITE BREWS Get in 1 HOUR EARLY! Buy a
Caras Park photo © Charles Martin
Montana Human Rights Network organizer Jamee Greer stood outside the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 19, waiting to tour the East Wing, and attend a barbecue hosted by Vice President Joe Biden, when he noticed his own shoes. They were scuffed. One had a hole. It was in that moment when Greer wondered how the gay son of a German immigrant mother and a father who worked a Belgrade Photo courtesy of Bobbie Zenker gravel pit ended up as a guest at the This year’s Montana Pride Celebration parade grand marshals were, from left, Jamee Greer, home of the nation’s state Rep. Bryce Bennett, state Sen. Christine Kaufmann and state Rep. Diane Sands. first black president Despite such opposition, Montana’s gay couples receive the same benefits as for an LGBT leadership summit. gay rights movement is making significant their heterosexual peers. It remains to be “For me, it’s surprising that I even got gains. In June, the Montana Democratic seen how Montana lawmakers would rethe opportunity to do this,” Greer says in a Party officially came out in support of gay spond to such a directive. recent interview with the Independent. marriage. The state GOP, meanwhile, reThe Montana Human Rights Network “It’s incredibly humbling and honoring.” moved a plank during this year’s conven- also aims to introduce a statewide non-disSince 2009, the 30-year-old Greer has tion that called to re-criminalize crimination bill, similar to Missoula’s and been at the center of nearly every LGBT homosexual acts. the proposal currently under review by Heequality debate in Montana. In 2010, he Niki Zupanic, public policy director for lena city officials. was instrumental in the passage of Mis- the American Civil Liberties Union of MonGreer also anticipates Missoula’s antisoula’s anti-discrimination ordinance. More tana, says those gains are due in large part discrimination ordinance will again be chalrecently, he’s been rounding up signatures to the work of Greer and a handful of oth- lenged. A 2011 effort by Republican Rep. in Helena in an effort to persuade lawmak- ers like him. “I think of Jamee as a stone in Kris Hansen of Havre to toss the law and ers there to pass similar legislation. Greer a pond and the ripples travel pretty far and ban others like it died in the Senate. also testifies regularly in favor of gay rights wide in Montana,” she says. Gay rights controversies clearly aren’t at the Montana State Capitol. Much of the Zupanic knows all too well that testi- limited to Montana. As the debate rages time when he talks, he keeps it simple, fying in Helena can be daunting, especially across the country, it’s fitting that Vice Pressharing his story about what it’s like to when advocating for LGBT equality. ident Biden invited Greer, along with five grow up gay in Montana. “When you’re greeted day after day other LGBT rights activists from across the “I got shoved into some lockers,” he with hostile reactions, being called up for northwest, to the White House for recogsays of his days at Bozeman High School. questions, when the point only seems to nition. In May, Biden became the highest“I dealt with my share of bullying. And I be to try to give you a hard time, some- ranking American official to publicly state think that I learned maybe some lessons times even to try and humiliate you, it is re- his support for gay marriage. President from that.” ally difficult to get back up there the next Barack Obama followed days later. He draws on those lessons in his ca- day,” she says. Greer says he’s pleased with the recogreer as a lobbyist and gay rights activist. Greer says he’s happy to take the heat. nition. But as he peered through the White It’s not uncommon for him to hear law- He does it for others who might not be House gates last month, he couldn’t help makers and others in Helena refer to gay equipped to do so. “I wear it a bit like a but think of the other LGBT people who people as pedophiles, perverts and de- badge of honor,” he says. have been there before him. They include viants. In the midst of such rhetoric, Greer He’s polishing that badge for the 2013 activists arrested while demanding HIV has become a target for those who don’t legislative session. The next time state law- treatment funding and military veterans like his politics. In February 2011, Mon- makers convene could be significant for protesting Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. tana Family Foundation President Jeff Las- LGBT Montanans. A decision is expected “This is me standing on the shoulders zloffy referenced Greer by name in a radio from the state Supreme Court on a lawsuit of people who have been doing this work podcast, saying, “Those with depraved filed by the ACLU on behalf of six same-sex for decades,” Greer says. “I wasn’t there minds are trying to change the very fabric couples seeking partnership benefits. The by myself.” of our society so that we look more like court could order the legislature to craft a Sodom than Montana...” jmayrer@missoulanews.com domestic partnership mechanism so that
VIP Ticket: $20 (4 tokens) or join the Brew Crew : $25 for Brew Crew Card & $12 (2 tokens) for Festival Get all the details and purchase online at
2012 FESTIVAL RELEASE AT 1:00 & 4:00 BEERS RELEASED FOR THE 1ST TIME!
&//$ 6%.$/23 s $12 (INCLUDES GLASS & 2 TOKENS, ADDITIONAL TOKENS $1) !.$ /6%2 /.,9 s -/.4!.! "2%7%23 %.#/52!'% 2%30/.3)",% $2).+).'
montanabrewers.org
missoulanews.com • October 4 – October 11, 2012 [9]