By Carli Johnson SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
From March 24 through March 30, Big Sky OUT will present Big Sky’s inaugural Winter Pride Week. The free weeklong event includes art activities, group ski lessons at Big Sky Resort and a brunch drag show at Tips Up.
The event was inspired in part from the nonprofit organization’s success with previous pride celebrations, according to board member Taylor McCaslin. “We had such success with our summer festival,” McCaslin said in an interview with EBS. “It felt like the right time to bridge into the winter season.”
McCaslin noted how pride events create opportunities for community bonding, and dialogue for community members to better understand and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. “I think that it’s never been more important,” McCaslin said, referring to Montana’s new legislative session where there are a handful of active anti-LGBTQ bills in the state.
“That’s why we felt like it was important to show up in all seasons here in Big Sky,” McCaslin said.
Due to the changing political landscape, BSO recently faced a $5,000 deficit for winter pride and an additional $4,500 in event costs that were expected to be donated.
In response, McCaslin approached the Big Sky Resort Area District board on March 13 with a one-time ask for $9,500 to help support BSO’s winter pride week.
The board voted unanimously to support the one-time request for $9,500, after hearing McCaslin’s pitch. He explained that three past attempts to create a pride ski week in Big Sky have been unsuccessful.
“We’re changing that this year. It is happening,” McCaslin said.
Beginning on March 24, BSO will host mental health and wellness sessions in partnership with Be Well Big Sky, followed by a guided art class. The rest of the week will be filled with wellness and learning activities that bring local businesses together to support BSO’s mission of fostering a vibrant and inclusive LGBTQ+ community in Big Sky.
The week will close with a pride parade at Big Sky Resort, with participants skiing a 30-by-25-foot pride flag down Mr. K on March 29 and a brunch drag show at Tips Up on March 30. This is the first time BSO is doing an event on the mountain, and they have organized scholarship opportunities for those who can’t afford lift tickets.
Officials from Big Sky Resort did not provide a comment for this story. McCaslin noted that the resort originally agreed to provide sponsorship and donate lessons, but pulled back in the weeks leading up to the event.
“For me, this year is about proving that this event works, and next year is about going big with Big Sky Resort, and establishing this as an annual event that showcases that Big Sky not only welcomes, but celebrates everyone,” McCaslin said.
The full schedule can be found on the organization’s website.
