History Isn’t Pretty — And Neither Is Inequality: Bozeman, Montana

The Golden Flyer II arrived early one morning in beautiful Bozeman, Montana — wide-open skies, rugged mountain landscape, and a city that carries Montana’s independent spirit in its bones. After weeks of crossing the country in the spirit of Alice Burke and Nell Richardson’s original 1916 suffrage road trip, this stop felt like a homecoming.

Bozeman sits at the crossroads of history and progress. And it welcomed us in exactly the right place: the Extreme History Project.

The Extreme History Project — directed by Crystal Alegria — works to make history relevant by connecting Montana’s past to contemporary issues. Rather than focusing only on traditional frontier narratives, the Project emphasizes overlooked stories and multiple perspectives: the histories of women, Indigenous people, Chinese and African American communities, the labor movement, social justice, civic engagement, and the history of Bozeman’s own historic red-light district, where the Project is located.

Their motto says it plainly: history isn’t pretty. It should be honest, inclusive, and sometimes uncomfortable. That is a spirit the Driving the Vote for Equality Tour understands well.

Thanks to the planning of Montana NOW President Jan Strout and Danielle Rogers, both Montana stops — Missoula and Bozeman — were enthusiastically organized and warmly hosted. Their leadership made the difference.

Bozeman Mayor Joey Morrison issued an Equal Rights Amendment Proclamation that was, by the Tour’s estimation, the most legally precise and substantively grounded ERA proclamation we have received from any mayor on this journey.

Author Jeryl Schriever and campaign strategist Kathy Bonk convened a small group strategy discussion on the urgency of a 2027 Congressional Joint Resolution to affirm and recognize the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution.

Jeryl drew the direct line between Alice and Nell’s 1916 journey and the work ahead today — then cut to the chase:

“Let’s just get it done.” — Jeryl Schriever

Kathy Bonk brought the legal and political stakes into sharp focus:

“We need Congress to act so that any cases reaching the Supreme Court, the justices cannot rule, ‘start over.’”

“The ERA is needed now more than ever, so that existing laws on equal credit, Title IX on education and sports, and equal employment cannot be bulldozed over like the Dobbs decision did in reversing nationwide access to abortion under Roe v. Wade. Section Two of the ERA gives Congress the authority to implement the ERA — and that is needed as much as Section One.” — Kathy Bonk

More than a century after women secured the right to vote, and more than fifty years after the ERA passed Congress, the fight for full constitutional equality continues. Bozeman — a city shaped by independent thinking, honest history, and a commitment to inclusion — proved once again that this movement has deep roots and broad support far beyond the coasts.

The Golden Flyer II drew attention and sparked conversations wherever it traveled through Bozeman. That has always been the strategy. It still works. And with a 2027 Joint Resolution in sight, the work ahead has never felt more urgent — or more possible.