Meet MENTANA!

Join us and get your calendars, autographs, and large size art. Eat, drink, and be gay! Happy Pride Missoula, Montana!

Meet David Herrera

     “Holy backsides Batman, he’s naked!”  This popped into my mind as I lay on the bed with superhero sheets and a bundle of comics scattered around me.  Another thought was, “Just smile and try to look relaxed!”  Well, not sure how well I pulled off the latter, but after about an hour and a half of Terry taking photographs, we were able to view several shots that hopefully would be good enough for a page in the calendar.  Having never stripped for a photographer, the experience was a first for me.  There really wasn’t ever a chance that I wouldn’t do the photoshoot.  After all, it would have seemed fairly hypocritical of me to ask guys in the community to pose for the calendar if I wasn’t prepared to do the same thing.  That said, I can certainly understand the nervousness and uncertainty they felt as they prepared for their own personal time in front of the camera, wearing next to nothing.  For me, the journey to be comfortable with my own body and in my own skin has been a long one.  Yet, one shaped by my earliest memories of fantasizing about the beautiful superheroes on the pages of comic books.

     As for most teenage boys growing up in a small town in rural Texas, comics were an escape to bigger cities filled with adventure, danger, and yes, superheroes able to leap tall buildings, run faster than a speeding bullet and bring criminals to justice.  Super heroes had no choice but to lead double lives in order to protect their personal identities.  As a young gay teen, leading a secret life and knowing that there was something about myself that I couldn’t share with anyone, was something I could easily relate to.  I yearned to wake up one day with super strength and the ability to climb walls thanks to the bite of a radioactive spider.  Or to have an alien drop out of the sky and bestow me with a green ring and the ability to create anything at will.  These were the fantasies that propelled me through junior high and high school.  Of course, I was never the muscled brawny type, more the 98-pound, skinny, brainy type.  I learned to run fast in order to stay a head of the sluggish, thick-headed bullies that chased me after school.  That was my super power.  Nonetheless, I would’ve traded running for one of those super rings in a heartbeat!

     I played tennis all through high school as a way to improve my coordination, stay fit and remain active.  Plus, it was a lot of fun and great to be part of a team.  As I grew up, I realized that even without super powers, I’d have to figure out how best to get along in the world and feel good about myself.  In many ways, comics helped shape my views of masculinity, but more importantly, they influenced my views about justice, honesty, courage and integrity.  I know now that the images of superheroes may not have been realistic for the vast majority of men, but they instilled in me the belief that through hard work and sweat, I would have the ability to create a body that I felt comfortable with.  I still struggle at times with body image, but all in all, I know that what’s on the inside, far outweighs what’s on the outside.  And that’s a lesson worth learning not only from superheroes, but from actual experience!

Meet Chris Haines

My coming out was at the age of 27, so I was a late bloomer. I am 33 now, and I’m still only at the cusp of my understanding of what it means to be a gay man in Montana. When I had heard of this project at my first ever Pride Rally at a speed dating event, I was very reluctant to jump right into it. I had to weigh all the pros and cons-- should or should I not. All the self-doubt I was feeling made a huge factor in my choice to say "Hell NO!", but a few months later and a lot of self-talk I convinced myself to say yes.

Growing up I was the fat chubby kid—low self-esteem and horrible self-worth. I didn't see what everyone else around me saw-- which was a bright and sensitive child with an incredible future ahead of me. Sadly, though, I was physically abused when I was 10 years old by two neighborhood boys near my house. I became angry and resentful. My trust in others was shattered and my spark for life diminished. I saw myself as damaged and unwanted. I held the anger and hate inside myself my whole life. When I realized I was different, with no concept or the word gay, at the age of 12 it fueled my anger. I had a deep self-loathing and rejected most of my friends and others around me-- never telling a soul of what had happened to me. As I said I was 27 when I finally came to grips with who I was, and after some counseling I admitted out loud and proud that I was a gay man and this is what had happened to me. Internally, I forgave the boys who are now grown men-- for what they did to me-- not for them, but it was more for me and my own healing processes.  By taking baby steps over the years, I now feel like a brand new man, ready to live life anew.

I got in touch with Terry Cyr and set up an appointment to meet with him. He made my initial hesitation and nervousness dissipate. I don't know what I was expecting to find when I met him, but to my delight the environment was very laid back with no expectations. He told me everything that would happen and what was expected of me to my great relief! When the day came and I stood in front of the camera for the first time, I was so nervous and scared. I was like OMG! Am I really doing this. But it became more natural and with his guidance I managed to shed my fears and my clothes in the interest of art and self-expression. I felt absolutely liberated. The process was very symbolic for me. I no longer saw myself as the shy, mistrusting overweight child to which I had seen in the mirror my whole life, but instead I saw a confident, attractive man with ambitions and wonderful friends and family support. Looking at my final pictures the way Terry had seen me through his lens opened my eyes to a new beginning. I see my life clearly and I celebrate a new awakening. Thank you Terry and all those that thought of doing this project, as well as to those that have participated in making this a reality. I am so glad to be a part of this experience. I say to all who read this: Cast aside your fears, doubts, reservations and inhibitions of your past. Open yourself to what the world has in store for you, because it is beautiful and so are we.

Meet Sam and Jayse

Sam Jaxin:

My "coming out" story is that I don't have a coming out story. My journey as a Two-Spirit started on the Crow Indian Reservation in Southeastern Montana when I was 5 years old with the guidance of my great-grandmother. At that age she and my family started teaching me the traditional roles of both the women and men in our tribe, which are gender specific. Being taught both roles helped me gain a stronger self-identity as a Crow Two-Spirit (Bite) throughout my life. I left the reservation when I graduated high school and have since been a modern day nomad.

In my travels I have found other Two-Spirit people from various tribes who have been taught their own traditional ways- and others who are searching for what was lost through Christianity and Genocide. Traditional Two-Spirit people are a dying race within Indian Country and it is has been my life goal to help revive these traditions to bring them back to the Indian people.

Throughout my journey I was very fortunate to find my husband, Jayse, who I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with and starting another journey together. The possibilities are endless when you have love without boundaries.

Jayse Matthews:

In a society drenched in a religious soaked upbringing, is unfortunately the way some of us are introduced to this world. Coming out in two thousand and eight, was the most trying and challenging years I've ever had to conclude. Throughout my childhood I knew there was something different about me. I like guys.

The imminent agony religion brought to my reality back then, the induced brainwashing; the voices inside my mind had been getting louder now and even harder to stop hearing.“You’re going to hell” “There’s something revolting and vile within you” “There isn't any hope for you”.

I noticed a change start to happen within after realizing something, I had never been ever truly happy. Unaware, my psyche was uncovering of what was causing so much physical and mental pain where the trauma was leaving me to die; after carrying the unessential baggage others had left in their trail for me to view their burden as my own, I was finally able to breathe. I was finally able to become ME! When I found myself for the first time, the feelings here on this page couldn't even describe the emancipation it brought.

My beginning journey is just one drop of water in the vast ocean of stories that countless people go through. It’s a sad reality that some of us travel. And for some, never find the path they are ever truly meant to be on. I became who I was born to be. If I didn't, I may have never have found someone who loves for who I am. And for that, I am thankful for my husband, Jaxin.

Meet Chantz Thilmony

One thing I've always been proud of is being born and raised in this beautiful state- although being here hasn't always been the easiest. 

Over the course of my young life, fitting in was always a struggle. I've always been labeled "too much" of something- too fat, too hairy, too femm, too gay- so self esteem hasn't always been the easiest to come by. As I've gotten older, I've really learned to love me and appreciate the skin I am- embracing the idea that who or what I am is not a problem to be solved. 

I really wanted to participate in this project after being inspired by reading the beautiful stories shared by the other Mentana participants. I wanted to share a vulnerable side of myself not often shared- in hopes of compelling others to challenge outside perceptions of themselves and truly embracing the beauty that makes each and every one of us unique. 

Meet Ophelia Uppe-Bouviér

I found the idea of modeling for this calendar intriguing, and thought I’d like to participate…. Which even surprised myself.


Why would I want to be involved with a project like this? Didn’t I know people were going to be purchasing this calendar? Naturally, the thought of me hanging in kitchens across town as Miss October or the like brought to mind some questions I had to carefully consider.


However, I’ve learned in my life that doing the unexpected and expressing myself as an artist are good things for me. And I’m certainly not shy when it comes to Ophelia.
Although clearly I am a drag queen, I always think of myself as an actor. I see how “Ophelia Uppe-Bouviér” has evolved into this complex character I’ve created with her own life and family. The crazier her antics, the more entertaining she is for us all, myself included. It’s a character that Curtis totally loses himself in, easily.
Here, we see the drag actor in his natural habitat, wardrobe in the background and tools of his trade scattered about the vanity. Beautiful in his average glory.

Meet Brandon Sorensen

Montana: A Place of Origin 

I find my comfort at home, here in Missoula, a community where many people find and make their way to tell their own personal story.  Mine isn’t quite that different from yours.  We all strive to make our own mark, to make a statement, to define ourselves.  I’ve discovered who I am by surrounding myself with others who are motivated, who don’t settle, who always push themselves to achieve their fullest potential.

I’m always learning, and like being challenged to think outside of the box.  When I heard about the Mentana Calendar Project, I was fascinated with those who had participated.  Men who choose to put themselves in a situation that’s unfamiliar, forcing them to open up and become an individual.   I found myself in that very same situation when I asked Terry Cyr to photograph me.  At first it was like I was a stone statue; rigid, course, and without fluidity. After a while it became easier.  I’ve found myself comparing this to my own personal story. 

Coming out was a challenge for me.  It took leaving Montana for me to gain my own sense of identity.  Upon coming back I found myself in a part of my life where I needed to make my mark.  I wanted to be a man who was looked up too, and who lived by example.  All of this was thanks to my father, who always encouraged me in to step into the unknown, to surround myself with challenges, to discover a man that I am creating for myself.  

 Today I am successful businessman and have surrounded myself with friends who quickly became family to me. I feel as if I have achieved my goals….but the beauty about life is that we never stop growing, we never settle, we continue to better ourselves in this LGBT community.  I’m Brandon Sorensen, I’m caring, driven, generous, motivated and adventurous. And above all I am proud to be a gay man, business owner and a Montanan.

Meet Song Stuker

I grew up in Harlem Montana. I was bullied a lot for being different. Then I moved away from my hometown and I was a little more comfortable with who I was. Then I went to Montana Big Sky Pride and it helped me come to terms with who I actually am. This project I participated in shows that I am proud of who I am.