This program area aims to secure legal protections for LGBT Montanans and their families. Over the past 20 years, we have worked at the state level to add sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to the Montana Human Rights Act and Montana's Bias-Based Crimes statute, as well as pass policy for same-sex relationship recognition. Our goal continues to be state-level change, but for the last three years, the Network's strategy has been to run local campaigns to pass city-level, non-discrimination ordinances. These ordinances protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. Two ordinances have been passed in Missoula and Helena. We are beginning work on a campaign in Bozeman and Billings. By working with the LGBT community and allies, we have built our base of support by:

• Identifying over 5,000 supporters of policies that protect the LGBT community.
• Identifying 30 faith leaders that support legal inclusion of the LGBT community.
• Identifying over 70 business owners who support legal inclusion of the LGBT community.
• Engaging in community-building efforts that bring LGBT Montanans and allies together. These events have included film screenings, art programs, meet and greets, and community BBQs.
• Engaging in proactive and reactive media work that tells the stories of LGBT Montanans and allies.