The Lincoln Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community needs more effective ways to communicate and work together and see that accurate information goes to the Community and its families. Leaders in the project of a GLBT radio show can hopefully address this. Also, hopefully, such a radio show can provide encouragement to those coming out and offer information about upcoming events of interest. It will also provide an accurate perspective on GLBT roles in cultural life and history.

Planning is underway for such a GLBT-related radio program in Lincoln. Those interested in working in a volunteer capacity as production assistants (i.e., researchers/ writers), technical help, music coordinators, casual contributors, etc.) are encouraged to contact Tom McClain (tmcclain123@wmconnect.com), 475-3437, or David Sontos david.sontos@yahoo.com). Please describe any related experience you may have had or indicate your willingness to learn.

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The hearing on LB 571, a bill that would allow any two people to jointly adopt (including GLBT couples and other parents who are not married to each other) is up before the Legislature tomorrow, Thursday March 1st.

The Human Rights Campaign has taken notice of us! See their action alert and/or send a message to your Senator from their website. Ask them to support LB 571 so that all children may be equal under the law.

Human Rights Campaign Action Alert: http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/nebraskaadoption

More information is also available at: http://neadoption2.org/default.aspx

Attached File:
ACLU Nebraska Factsheet  (26 KB)

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by Amy Miller
ACLU Nebraska Legal Director

Editor’s note: The second portion of this article is reprinted from the January Spectrum.

As this issue of the Spectrum goes to print, the two person adoption bill (LB571), was introduced by Senator Lowen Kruse and co-sponsored by Senators Abbie Cornett and DiAnna Schimek.

More co-sponsors are needed. E-mail or call your senator and ask him/her to co-sponsor this bill which protects our Nebraska children. (These days an e-mail is preferred to an hand-written letter unless, of course, you do not have access to a computer.)
The bill has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee, but as yet, there is no hearing date. That committee includes Senators Ashford (chairperson), Lathrop (co-chairperson), Chambers, McDonald, McGill, Pedersen, Pirsch, and Schimek.

This section is reprinted from the January Spectrum.
I've got exciting news! We’ve prepared a second-parent adoption bill that would allow people to adopt children, regardless of their marital status. This fixes the statutory hole that the Nebraska Supreme Court held in the case "In Re Luke" meant that same sex parents couldn’t adopt each other’s children because only married couples could jointly adopt.

At present time, we have one senator, Lowen Kruse of Omaha, who is willing to sponsor the bill. We'd like to see other senators sign onto the bill as well to give it additional precedence, but so far no other senators are willing to do that. If every member of real families would contact their senator and tell them they want to see support for the bill (which is NOT yet introduced as we hope for another sponsor or two), that would be immensely helpful. Time is currently of the essence: the bill will be introduced next week, so the request to senators should be like this:

"I understand Senator Kruse is introducing a bill to allow two people to jointly adopt children, regardless of the parents' marital status. As your constituent, I strongly encourage you to sign on as a co-sponsor of this bill because it's very important to allow all children to have the protection of two legal parents. If you are not able to sign on as a co-sponsor, I still wish to know if you will support the bill as it advances."

Members of PFLAG can locate their senators' phone number or email address at www.nebraskalegislature.gov. Even if no other senators sign on as co-sponsors, we at least have Senator Kruse’s commitment to bring it forward, and that means a public hearing will be scheduled for public testimony. That would be another point at which we’d hope real families would either attend the hearing or send letters to describe how important it is to have two legal parents.

If you have any questions or know other groups that we should contact, please contact Amy Miller at (402) 476-8091.

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As part of PFLAG's support for the KENO fund grant project, the researchers will provide a focus group opportunity for parents of LGBT youth to provide their perspective of the environment for LGBT youth at school and with social service and criminal justice agencies as well as provide input about what would help create safe environments for LGBT youth. The focus group is likely to be scheduled for the March 27 PFLAG meeting and will take place at the same time as the support groups. Participation is totally voluntary. For more information or to sign up to participate, contact Pat Tetreault at 472-1752 or ptetreault1@unl.edu.

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Why be a victim of the tobacco industry who has recently raised the amount of nicotine as high as thirty percent in some cigarettes? They want to keep you addicted!

Starting Monday February 5, Christ Unity Church at 135 N. 31st St will offer smoking cessation classes. The twelve classes will be from 7:00pm to 8:00pm on Monday and Thursday evenings, ending March 15. Our goal is to have everyone in the class become smoke free, hopefully for the rest of your life. You can do it!

Consider this: 20.9% of the American population smokes. Nearly 50% of the gay and lesbian population smoke. You are very welcome to come and help change this!

To register or for information call 435-4447.

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As of the date of this printing, LB475, a bill that would add sexual orientation and marital status, as protected classes, into the existing Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act, has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee. It was introduced by Senator Chambers.

Also the Anti-bullying bill, LB 205, was passed out of the Education Committee and moves to the floor of the legislature for debate. This bill was introduced by Howard with co-sponsors Adams, Ashford, Avery, Hudkins, Kopplin, Kruse, Nantkes and Preister.

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