The hearing for LB475, the bill that would include sexual orientation, as a protected class in the Nebraska Fair Employment Practices Act, was a HUGE success!!!

The hearing started at 5:30 PM and lasted over an hour.

Michael Gordon, Executive Director for Citizens For Equal Protection, reported on polling results from the Nebraska Association of Sociological Behavior Indicator Survey. The survey shows overwhelming support for the passage of this law.

Laurel Marsh, the Executive Director for the ACLU, testified and told a story from the 1800’s where a woman in Wisconsin, who had passed the bar exam, was denied her license to practice law. The Supreme Court argued that this would lead women down a path of loose morals, unwed motherhood, lose her feminine nature and other ills to society. Laurel asked the committee if they thought today’s hearing would be considered a quaint in 150 years as the story she just shared. Steve Griffith, United Methodist Minister, talked about compassion for all people, equality and how he counsels church members who fear for their jobs if they are “outed”.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
Three bright, energetic young men, who can only be an asset to our state, testified brilliantly.

One told of discrimination in greater Nebraska where he was fired from his fast food job in college because he was “outed”. He is now an intern for the Democratic Party and told the committee he was committing his life to lgbt equality.

Another college student from Massachusetts who is involved with the GSA at UNL talked about how different the political climate is in Nebraska. But, he chose Nebraska for his education and was risking a lot testifying at this hearing as he has been interviewing for a job and this could harm his chanced.

A graduate of Wesleyan, spoke about his activism and the campus climate. He talked about his classmates who chose to leave Nebraska after graduation to seek a friendlier place to be themselves.

I would have to say they caught the attention and the hearts of the whole Judiciary Committee.

Suffice it to say that the opponents did not have the same warm reception from the committee. Sen. Ashford told one gentleman that he was entitled to his opinion, but if there is a situation where any group of people are being treated unfairly, it was the job of the Unicameral to reconcile that.

THE GOOD NEWS
Last week the Judiciary Committee, almost overwhelmingly, advanced LB475 onto the floor for debate. Sen. Pirsch voted no and Sen. McDonald was present and not voting. I would encourage everyone to contact their senator and urge them to vote for LB475. You can find your senator at www.nebraskalegislature.gov.

TALKING POINTS

Sends a message of fairness to our LGBT workforce.

Sends a message to the rest of the United States that we are a tolerant, fair and progressive place to live.

It is the right thing to do.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office:
Michael Gordon
Citizens For Equal Protection
info@cfep-ne.org
www.cfep-ne.org
402-398-3027

---

Hooray for LB 475 because the Judiciary Committee designated it a priority bill for them! This means that it joins the issues that will frame the rest of this session of the Nebraska Legislature. LB475 prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or marital status. Priority bills are scheduled ahead of other bills giving them a better chance of their passing during the session which ends in late May. (Each senator gets one priority bill, each legislative committee gets two, and the speaker of the house gets 25.

The antibullying bill, LB 205, has been heard, passed by the committee to the floor into general file. Senator Erdman is trying to water it down by eliminating the protected classes (including sexual orientation) with an amendment to it (AM 237). Please ask your senator to vote against the amendment but in favor of the bill.
The two parent adoption bill, LB571, will have its hearing on March 20. This bill focuses on the rights of children. Read the story in this issue about the importance of this bill, its contents, and how it protects the inheritance rights of children of same sex parents and other unmarried parents.

---

The Lincoln Pride Committee of 2007 regrets to inform the community that the Lincoln Pride Celebration slated for June 2, 2007 has been canceled. Lincoln Pride, Inc., is in the process of refunding money associated with donations, sponsorship and Pride Guide advertising for the year 2007.

In order to strengthen the organization and to serve the community better, Lincoln Pride, Inc. Is committed to using this “down” time to reorganize,
recruit new members, and to solicit input from the community. We will continue to hold regularly scheduled meetings on the second Friday of every month at the Unitarian Church of Lincoln beginning in June. Meetings will be held at 7:00pm. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The Lincoln Pride Committee will continue to promote fundraising events and member recruitment activities throughout the year. Money from benefits will be used for general operating expenses and to pursue Federal tax-exempt status. Money raised above and beyond these expenses will be set aside for the Lincoln Pride 2008 Celebration.

For the latest information about how you can get involved, please check their web site at www.lincolnpride.org, for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, surveys and news about Lincoln Pride..

---