On December 6, 2022, Bozeman City Commissioner Chris Coburn visited Gallatin High School during the bi-weekly SAGA lunch meeting. SAGA club is a place where all students are welcome, to have a safe space for them to express themselves. It is supervised by Nate Johnson and Noelle Harper. Mr. Johnson originally helped facilitate this meeting, as he reached out to Chris earlier this year about meeting with the club, when Chris said that he would be more than willing to come in and talk with the students.

Digging into this club event, there was some curiosity around why Mr. Johnson was invested in this idea. In an interview, he stated that “ I think that this is something that SAGA members will benefit from because there are not a ton of LGBTQ+ voices in our community. and I firmly believe that this is a larger, grander aspect of building one’s identity as a queer person, and to do that, you need time and idols and people to look up to…Seeing that things changing for better…is very valuable for students.” It is important for students to feel represented in the world at large—and meeting with Chris was one way to do that.

In regards to this meeting, there were simple questions—like concerns over housing prices, or discussing how to get information on local policy—but also very loaded questions that were asked. One of the first asked was “beyond voting, what’s the best way for LGBT folks to get involved in government?” One of the biggest ways, Chris said, was to stay up to date on local politics through reading the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. In the Chronicle, it’s easy to find a variety of news, and it helps to form an understanding of what is happening in the community. On another level, Chris stated that being true to oneself is also an important way to be represented in government.

In telling his personal story, he said that he was faced with struggles when campaigning, being a POC and queer. However, he didn’t think it was right to disregard these things, and stayed true to himself. When talking about his campaign experience, he said “I remember, very early into my campaign, someone that I really trusted came up to me and was like, ‘just so you know, some of my friends…are just a little concerned because they think that you’re making your sexual identity too much a part of your campaign.’ And I was like, that’s interesting, because that’s just who I am. It’s not like it’s a part of my campaign…it’s not a show that I’m putting on. Me posting a picture of my partner and I is not a statement, it’s just my day.” Sharing this experience with SAGA students was very impactful; it’s a prime example of how someone can succeed while still being their authentic self. This meeting served its purpose well, in introducing students to local government, while also providing a space to visit with someone who is a good role model.