Drag out your costumes and dancing shoes! The Nebraska Coalition for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Civil Rights will host a costume party and dance celebrating Saturday, October 11 as Coming Out Day. The festivities begin at 6:30pm, and will run until 10:00pm. Co-sponsors include the Lincoln Unitarian Church Welcoming Congregation Committee, and PFLAG Cornhusker. There will be food and beverages, prizes, music, games and a costume contest with prizes. Children are welcome, and child care will be provided. Come celebrate with friends and family.

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On July 31, Selena Alvarez-Hernandez, a Latino transgender woman, was stabbed eight times outside a Council Bluffs apartment complex and left to die. Since the murder, the police department has yet to name any suspects or even a motive in this brutal crime. The GLBT community has reacted with sadness and solidarity. GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, joined community members to honor the memory of Selena and other victims of senseless crimes and raise awareness about this act of violence at a vigil on Friday, September 5 at the Gene Leahy Mall in downtown Omaha.

GLAAD calls on the media to use appropriate terminology and respect Selena's gender identity. In connection with Selena's death, GLAAD held a Media Essentials Training workshop for the GLBT/Allies community on Monday, September 8 in Omaha to focus on the tools and skills needed to develop effective messages and interact pro-actively with the media. Many PFLAG Cornhusker members attended the workshop.

Selena's murder had little coverage in the Omaha World Herald, and received no attention from the Lincoln Journal Star as reported to the editors of Spectrum.

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In August each year, PFLAG renews its Endowment Fund Drive, which continues until the end of the year. During this time, we ask for contributions for The Endowment. Please consider PFLAG's Endowment when you fill out your membership form and mark a contribution to The Endowment at the bottom of the form.

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