By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
Local queer advocacy nonprofit Big Sky OUT held its second annual Winter Pride Week in January, and group leaders are celebrating the event’s growth, as well as a rise in community support.
One board member, who goes by Aries, spoke at the Feb. 11 Resort Tax meeting, thanking the board for “taking a chance” on the young nonprofit by awarding a 2025 microgrant which made last winter’s debut event possible—it’s also the only winter pride event in the state, according to Big Sky OUT.
The first year, 150 people showed up with less than a month of notice.
“This year, we went a little bigger,” Aries told the board, sharing a statement written by fellow Big Sky OUT member Taylor McCaslin. “Over 250 participants joined us for a full week of events. We skied down with our giant flag on Mr. K with about 100 participants. We sold out our fundraising event, hosted a film festival at [WMPAC], brought in nationally touring queer DJs and paid every single performer and local creative.”
The nonprofit hopes supporters will plan their winter visits around pride week in the future. While the group started in 2023 with a summer pride march—June is pride month, and roughly 20 summer pride events are planned across Montana—they now plan to pivot their focus to offering Montana’s only winter event.
McCaslin’s statement noted “incredible feedback” on the winter pride event, citing participants who said they’ve never felt more seen and welcomed in a mountain town. Businesses felt a positive economic impact, and reported positive experiences interacting with winter pride participants, according to McCaslin.
Speaking on their own behalf, Aries added, “People have told me that they are willing to stay in this community and continue to show up for us in this community because we simply exist. They don’t necessarily show up to all our events, and that’s fine—they’re just happy that they can see our flyer somewhere and it not get ripped down.”
Founder Brit Diersch spoke with EBS on the phone, and said the nonprofit is on track to be self-sustaining. She listed financial sponsors including Visit Big Sky, Big Sky Thrift (through the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation), Bozeman Health, Lone Mountain Land Company and Big Sky Build.
In addition, Big Sky Resort donated space and supported the winter pride event, as well as other local businesses who hosted gatherings throughout the week.
“That kind of shows the public that we’re not going anywhere,” Diersch said. “To have support from such respected groups and businesses in town allows us to receive more respect for where we are now.”
While Diersch and her team of five Big Sky OUT leaders believe queer inclusivity is not a political topic, she recognizes that it’s a community that is often politicized nonetheless. The group’s aim is to display an inclusive, welcoming spirit in Big Sky, with local events open to all. She said it’s been encouraging to see community leaders stand beside the nonprofit in a time when it would be easy to lean away from the sensitive subject.
“When there’s so much silence, it’s safe to assume there isn’t support,” Diersch said. “That we have so many people speaking out either to verbally support, or financially support, it just makes everyone feel so welcomed in our community. Silence is louder than vocal support. In these times, everyone just feels so unsure.”
Upcoming events include a book swap and craft night at Cowboy Coffee on Thursday, Feb, 26 at 6 p.m., and “Gays on blades” events on the first Monday of every month at 8 p.m. at the Marty Pavelich Ice Rink.
Diersch said the best ways to support the organization are to volunteer, donate and spread the word around.
