Bozeman Magazine

“Rainbows Over the Rockies: Stronger Together,” the second annual virtual summit for LGBTQ+ youth in Montana and across the United States, will take place online April 15–17.
The free event is an educational and networking summit for LGBTQ+ youth, families, professionals and allies. Professionals from across Montana and the United States will lead webinars in leadership, support and education during the three-day event.
 
The summit will also be recorded and posted online on the summit’s YouTube channel.
 
According to Paul Lachapelle, MSU professor of political science and one of the event’s organizers, the goal of the summit is to provide citizens with information and resources that address issues and challenges experienced by LGBTQ+ youth and that can be used and applied to help them in their own communities.

 
Lachapelle said another goal is to develop a network of well-informed youth and adults across Montana and beyond who are better networked and motivated to access educational and supportive services for the LGBTQ+ community.
 
“Like last year, we are focusing on critical issues for LGBTQ+ youth, such as high suicide rates, which, according to the Trevor Project, are nearly nine times higher for LGBTQ+ youth who come from highly rejecting families,” said Lachapelle, referring to the national crisis intervention organization. “Our ultimate goal is, again, to focus on mutual learning of the lived experience of LGBTQ+ community members and offer expanded content and opportunities for greater understanding and discussion on sexual orientation, gender identity, pronoun usage, gender transition, coming out, civil rights, and physical and mental health issues for our youth, families and allies.”

The summit begins Thursday, April 15, with a presentation by Katherine Soule, assistant vice provost of University of California Cooperative Extension who has extensive training focused on youth audiences. Soule will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the LGBTQ+ community and creating health care inequities.

 
A slate of presentations will follow focusing on microaggressions and bystander intervention; legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community; creating spaces for the LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous and people of color community; understanding perspectives from LGBTQ elders; and more. The event also will include presentations geared toward youth and their parents and educators, including youth-led presentations from participants in Montana, Washington and Arizona. Opportunities for collaboration and networking will be available, and youth will once again be invited to apply for Leadership Awards to support their local leadership and development projects. At the 2020 summit, 15 organizations and individuals received awards. 

 
Lachapelle said over 35 organizations are sponsoring the summit, including 20 entities from MSU and many local and regional organizations, nonprofits and universities. Among the key organizers is the Western Development Center at Utah State University.
 
“The goal of the Western Rural Development Center is to work with partners to help the communities of the rural west thrive,” said Don Albrecht, executive director of the Western Rural Development Center. “A thriving community is one where every individual has opportunities and is treated with dignity and respect. The WRDC is committed to assisting everyone achieve their dreams regardless of sexual orientation or any other factor.”

 
While the summit is free, registration is required at virtualrainbowsummit.org. The website also provides more information about the event including the agenda, speaker biographies and presentation descriptions and a complete list of supporters.