The University of Nebraska is the first state institution to hire a full time employee devoted specifically to gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual people. Our own long time PFLAG member, Dr. Pat Tetreault, has been hired full time by the University of Nebraska as Assistant Director in Student Involvement for LGBT Programs and Services. She also has been appointed Director of the LGBTQ Resource Center. Dr. Tetreault is a 15 year member of UNL's Committee of GLBT Concerns.

There has never been before a full time GLBT position in the state of Nebraska employees list.

The mission statement for the LGBTQ Resource Center and vision statement is:
"The LGBTQ Resource Center advances the mission of UNL by working collaboratively to provide education, resources, outreach and advocacy. We envision a campus community that supports a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for students, staff, faculty and alumnae of all sexual orientation and gender identities and gender expressions."

Pat may be reached at 472-1752 in the Student Involvement Center in the Union or at 472-1652 in the Resource Center located on the third floor of the Student Union, east of the Women's Center, in room 342. The web site is www.si.unl.edu/lgbtqa.

Pat has instituted the PFLAG Liaison Program in the Resource Center which involves a PFLAG member serving in the Resource center for 2 hours every week. PFLAGers will interact with the students to get to know them and let students know about PFLAG. Also PFLAG member, Dr. Scott Winrow, Psychologist in the University Health Center, will be there to meet people and get to know them.

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Act now! In 31 states, it’s still legal to fire someone because they’re gay; in 39 states it is legal to fire someone for being transgender.

The Human Rights Campaign is leading the charge to end this injustice by working with our allies in Congress to pass the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Our momentum is building on Capitol Hill. But the Radical right is flooding lawmakers with lies and misinformation about ENDA. You can set the facts straight. Send your lawmakers a message today.

Make sure they know passing ENDA is the American thing to do! Call and e-mail Senator Ben Nelson and Senator Chuck Hagel today! Ask Senators Nelson and Hagel to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 2015).
· Senator Ben Nelson (202) 224-6551
· Senator Chuck Hagel (202) 224-4224
· To send an e-mail, go to passENDAnow.com

Please make sure to include the following in your e-mail or phone call:
· Your home address
· Your home phone number
· The name of the bill (EmploymentNon-Discrimination Act)
·The bill number (H.R. 2015)

That way, the Congressman and his staff will know exactly what bill you are contacting about and that you are a constituent!

Want to get more information, or want to get more involved? Please contact Michael Gordon at migoromaha@hotmail.com or 402 714-3810. Please share this with family members, friends and colleagues and ask them to take action, too.

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The PFLAG library has a new book donated by Dan Franks, Transitioand Beyond by Reid Vanderburgh.

Vanderburgh is a licensed therapist and a trans man. This book is a book for therapists and transsexuals alike - for the therapist a book of helpful information and for the transsexual, an understanding of yourself..

Some of the issues addressed include
1) partner/spouse responses
2) telling family members
3) fundamental transitioning
4) addiction and transition
5) workplace disclosure
6) how young is too young to transition?
7) what "support" looks like
8) Learning the rules of a new gender role
9) what does "post-transition" look like

Check out the book at the general meeting or when the church is open daily, 9-3.

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The LGBTQA Resource Center at UNL would like a representative from PFLAG to spend two-three hours per week in the Center. By being available to interact with students, PFLAG can establish a liaison with students and familiarize them with our organization. Two people have volunteered for a period once a month each, and two more are needed. Hours for volunteering are 10:00-3:00 M-F. Call the PFLAG Helpline at (402) 434-9880.

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As clergy who care about our members' lives and the hospitality of our community, we were pleased to see the article "Same-sex climate a hot issue" in the Lincoln Journal Star on July 29. The writer provided poignant examples of how laws of intolerance affect peoples' lives.

We were saddened, then, to read responses saying "homosexuality is a sin." Although such a statement clearly comes out of a deep conviction, we, too, have deeply held beliefs and we feel compelled by our faith to speak out. Being gay is not a sin. We have read widely, studied the Bible, been in many conversations with gay persons and their families and are convinced that being gay is not a choice a person makes, it is who a person is -- much the same way that one's eyes are brown or one is left-handed.

We too love the Bible and base our lives on its teachings. At the same time we recognize that it contains many legal and ritual prescriptions that people today no longer accept. For example, we regularly wear clothes that have a variety of types of threads mixed together within them; few people would support stoning children for disobedience; and most people would not assume slavery as part of the social system, as Paul does. Our challenge is to discern what parts of the Bible will be our highest authority: the few verses that seem to reject gay people or the countless times the Scriptures exhort us to do justice and love our neighbor.

A common thread runs through the scriptures of many faiths: the importance of mutual respect and the inherent worth of each person. In our work as ministers, we often counsel people who face discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Some are bullied or harassed at school. Others face being fired. Some are beaten on the street and are afraid to go to the police for fear of further harassment. If they are fired from their job, they have no legal recourse because state laws in Nebraska and 30 other states permit this.

Such daily oppression takes a toll on a person. Hiding who you are may help you keep your job, but it also deadens a piece of one's soul. Providing a home and caring for one's family brings much satisfaction in life. All of us strive to achieve that good life and find that happiness. In contrast, living in fear for one's economic security or even one's safety undermines the goodness of life and destroys the possibility of happiness.

We believe that people of faith have a responsibility to care for each other — body and soul. So our faith requires us not only to speak of human dignity but to work to ensure that every member of our community is treated fairly. Our concern is about people not living in fear anymore. It is about embracing family. It is about freedom and equality. It is about respect for difference.

As clergy serving in your communities, we sincerely hope and pray that in Lincoln and in Nebraska we can live together with respect.

Rev. Stephen Griffith, Saint Paul United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Brent O. Johnston, First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln
Rev. Dr. Jim Keck, First-Plymouth Church
Rev. Dr. David J. Lux, Saint Paul United Methodist Church
Rev. Nancy Erickson, First-Plymouth Church
Pastor Barbara Smisek, First-Plymouth Church
Rabbi Ilan Emanuel, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun (South Street Temple), Reform Judaism
Rev. Larry Moffet, First United Methodist Church, Lincoln
Rev. Jamie Norwich McLennan, First United Methodist Church, Lincoln
Fr. Jerry A. Thompson, St. Mark's on the Campus Episcopal Church
Rev. Jim Wallasky, First United Methodist Church, Waverly
Rev. Doyle Burbank-Williams, First United Methodist Church, Wayne, NE
Rev. Gwen L. Hurst-Anderson, United Church of Christ
Rev. Gary W. George, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Nancy E. Brink, North Side Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Omaha, NE
Rev. Dr. Sheila Mee, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Pauletta Lehn, United Methodist Church
Rev. Dana Bainbridge, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Jerry Albright, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Nebraska City
Rev. Tony Dawson
Rev. Dr. Don Hanway, Episcopal (Retired)
Rev. Richard Turner, United Methodist Church (Retired)

Read the piece, then leave your comments on the Lincoln Journal Star Website.

Source: Lincoln Journal Star - Opinion on 9-10-07

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It is time to renew your PFLAG membership, everyone! there is an envelope included in this issue of the Spectrum for your membership renewal. There is also a membership form available on the PFLAG website. Your money goes for the everyday needs of the organization such as stamps, child care for general meeting, potluck and coffee and tea supplies, flyer Xeroxing, paper for Xeroxing the Spectrum, sometimes Xeroxing the Spectrum (about $180 each time), envelopes, $15.00 dues to National PFLAG from each member, and other needs and supplies.

And don't forget that this month is the start of the Endowment fund drive. This money goes mainly to a rainy day fund for PFLAG, but in the eleven years it has been in existence, PFLAG has not needed it. We have't touched it because our members strongly support us!

Also, should the GLBT Community in Lincoln open a GLBT Center, PLFAG would be in a position to contribute financially to it from this fund.

Thanks to the Holiday Chocolate Party Fundraiser, we have a fund for our outreach and pamphlet supplies.

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Do you want to speak out for your equal protection? Do you love your family and want them to have equal protection? You are needed! Please attend the upcoming panel members' and activist' training!

PFLAG Cornhusker, Citizens for Equal Protection and UNL LGBTQA Programs and Services are sponsoring a training for all of us - a training for panelists to be held on September 20, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church, 2723 N. 50th Street.

SCHEDULE:
Registration 9:30-10:00 AM
Basic Panel Training 10:00 - 12:00
Lunch FREE
Civil Rights Issues Training 2:30

After the Civil Rights Training, attendees can take part in a special session on the legislative process -- all you need to know about how a bill starts, advances, and moves towards being a law.

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As mention previously, David Csontos will be starting a book club for GLBT/Allies. He has received responses, and the club is likely to begin meeting in early September. However, Csontos has had further thought on the club.
According to him:

"Though I enjoy books quite a bit, I'm equally a film nut. It occurred to me that, among GLBT/Allies, there may be film lovers. So I'm toying with the idea of a book/film club, one which would alternate book reading with film watching.

Unlike the book club part, no preparation would be necessary for attending film meetings. There would simply be a film (something from cinema history, of interest to the GLBT/Ally members) provided and discussion following.

It would be terrific if someone could offer use of a good home theater system a few times a year simply for the purpose of screenings - but, if not, something else could be arranged. I'm hopeful that a small group, whether readers or not, will want to join in the fun."

For further details, David can be reached at david.csontos@yahoo.com.

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It is with great sadness and concern that we, the Lincoln Pride Committee, feel obligated to step aside at this time. Because of health concerns, family and work obligations and our dwindling numbers, we find it impossible to uphold our commitment to the GLBT Community at this time. Because of this, Lincoln Pride will refrain from promoting or organizing Pride events in the foreseeable future.

We would like to thank our past sponsors, advertisers, entertainers and donors for their support. Your generosity and commitment to diversity made Lincoln Pride possible. Thank you!

We would also like to extend a very special thank you to past Lincoln Pride Committee Members and Volunteers for their years of dedicated service. You have honored the GLBT Community of Lincoln with PRIDE and dignity!

Most of all, we would like to thank the Lincoln GLBT Community for your encouragement and support throughout the years. It has been an honor to serve you!

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