The Shower of Stoles will be on display at the Wick Alumni Center, 1520 R Street, on the UNL Campus from noon on Sunday, April 1 to noon on Tuesday April 3. This collection of liturgical stoles represents and honors gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual individuals in faith communities who have been barred from serving because of their sexual orientation. The Shower of Stoles was created as a witness to give a voice to faithful people, many of whom have been forced to choose between serving in silence or losing their livelihood. This display will only be a small portion of the collection of over 800 stoles. Each liturgical stole has a powerful story.

Martha Juillerat, founder of the Shower of Stoles Project, will be in Lincoln during the time of this display to share her story. Martha Juillerat is a 1980 graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary and served in the Presbyterian ministry for 15 years in Illinois and Missouri. After "coming out" to the church in 1983 and publicly setting aside her ordination in 1995, Martha founded the Shower of Stoles Project. Martha, and her partner, Tammy Lindahl, were recipients of the National Inclusive Church Award and the Lazarus Foundation Award for their work in human rights and the welcoming church movement.

Juillerat will preach at Cornerstone, 640 N. 16th Street, at Sunday morning worship on April 1 at 10:30am. Fellowship begins at 10:00am. On Monday, April 2, at 7:00pm, Juillerat will speak at the Wick Alumni Center. A reception will follow.

Juillerat and Shower of Stoles offer a colorful, painful, powerful, and hopeful message to gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people of faith, allies and those who struggle for inclusive communities of faith. The public is invited to all of these events. These events are sponsored by the UNL Committee for Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Bisexual Concerns and United Ministries in Higher Education-Lincoln.

Source: Spectrum, March, 2001

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LB19 advanced to General File March 8 after the Judiciary Committee voted it on to the floor by a vote of five to three. LB19, the bill introduced by Sen. Ernie Chambers in the 97th Nebraska Legislature, amends the Nebraska Fair Employment Act to include sexual orientation in its non-discrimination clauses. Senators voting for the bill were Sens. Ernie Chambers and Pat Bourne of Omaha, Jennie Robak of Columbus, Matt Connealy of Decatur and Dwite Pedersen of Elkhorn. The three senators voting against the bill were Gene Tyson of Norfolk, Kermit Brashear of Omaha and Tom Baker of Trenton.

The bill's hearing occurred February 21 in the Judiciary Committee. Many Lincoln and Omaha PFLAGers were there and some testified. The room was crowded with supporters of the bill, including people from Nebraskans for Peace and others.

All of us are needed to get LB19 passed. People can write, call or visit their senator before LB19 is debated on the floor. This could happen later this spring or next winter. PFLAG members in places other than Lincoln or Omaha are especially encouraged to contact your senators. Senators from these areas complain they never hear from their constituents. Please contact the Lincoln PFLAG Legislative Committee if you made a call, wrote a letter or want to join others to visit senators at the Capitol.

Source: Spectrum, March 2001

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