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.
