Category: LGBTQ

Nebraska lawmaker introduces less restrictive amendment on abortion-gender care proposal

LINCOLN — An expected final vote Friday on the Nebraska Legislature’s efforts to further restrict abortions and limit gender-affirming care for minors may not be the last after a new amendment was filed Thursday.  However, key senators said they would not support the changes proposed. State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont filed an amendment to […]

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Final say on Nebraska gender care bill would be delegated to executive branch appointee and DHHS

LINCOLN — The latest fight over gender-affirming care in Nebraska has shifted, at least slightly, from whether there should be restrictions to who should have the final authority in drafting them. A new amendment would combine two of the most controversial topics this legislative session — abortion and gender-affirming care — into Legislative Bill 574, the […]

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Nebraska lawmakers defend colleague for ‘out of bounds’ conflict of interest complaint

LINCOLN — Several Nebraska lawmakers came to the defense of State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha on Wednesday after a complaint was filed alleging she has a potential conflict of interest on proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors. Frank Daley, executive director of the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, on Wednesday hand-delivered the complaint, […]

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Nebraska lawmakers narrowly advance trans health care bill after internal chaos

LINCOLN — Chaos erupted on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature on Thursday after a last-minute effort to consider an “olive branch” amendment on a bill to restrict some gender-affirming care for minors. Legislative Bill 574, proposed by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, would restrict puberty blockers, hormone therapies and genital or non-genital surgeries […]

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Lincoln mayoral candidates Gaylor Baird and Geist trade jabs over which is best for business

LINCOLN — Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird told more than 200 people at a candidate forum Thursday that her opponent, former State Sen. Suzanne Geist, is bad for business, while Geist described Lincoln under Gaylor Baird’s watch as a harder place to do business than it should be.  Gaylor Baird said Geist’s legislative record could cost […]

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Success of Nebraska proposal to restrict gender-affirming care might hinge upon amendment

LINCOLN — A potential second round of debate on a proposal to restrict some gender-affirming procedures in Nebraska will likely depend on the success of an amendment to narrow the bill. Legislative Bill 574, proposed by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, would prohibit puberty blockers, hormone therapies and genital or non-genital surgeries for minors. […]

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Lawsuit alleges Nebraska high school shuttered school paper for covering LGBTQ issues

LINCOLN — A federal lawsuit alleges Grand Island Northwest Public Schools and its superintendent violated the First Amendment after shutting down a school newspaper days after its staff covered LGBTQ+ topics. The ACLU of Nebraska filed the lawsuit in federal district court Friday on behalf of the Nebraska High School Press Association and a former student […]

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Nebraska drag queens, advocates fight proposal to prohibit children from attending drag shows

LINCOLN — Drag queens and local LGBTQ advocates flooded a legislative hearing Friday talking about the joy of drag in the face of efforts to restrict minors from attending such performances. Legislative Bill 371, proposed by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, would prohibit minors, specifically those younger than 19, from attending drag shows. He […]

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A Rhode Island Democrat exits Congress, in search of an impact no longer found in D.C.

WASHINGTON — Rhode Island’s longtime U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, a leader on the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump, an advocate for breaking up big tech and a champion for LGBTQ+ rights, will step down from Congress in late May to lead his state’s largest community foundation. The Democrat, elected in 2010 to represent […]

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Second day of debate on trans health care bill brings personal stories to forefront

LINCOLN — The second day of debate over a bill that would restrict what gender-affirming care minors could receive in the state took a more personal turn for one parent in the Nebraska Legislature. Omaha State Sen. Megan Hunt described Wednesday how Legislative Bill 574 would impact her and her 12-year-old son, Ash Homan. The bill, […]

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Nebraska lawmakers file ‘minority statement’ ahead of debate on trans health care bill

LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers on Friday filed a minority statement — a never-before-used tactic — to oppose legislation that would restrict what gender-affirming care minors could receive in the state. State Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh and Jen Day, both of Omaha, issued the statement ahead of debate on Legislative Bill 574 on Tuesday. Dubbed the “Let Them Grow Act,” […]

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Nebraska lawmaker continues push for LGBTQ nondiscrimination employment policy

LINCOLN — Jayden Speed, an 18-year-old high school student, said he is counting down the days to graduation while calculating whether Nebraska is the state to stay in. As a queer young person, Speed said, he loves Nebraska, its communities and the Legislature, and Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton University have offered […]

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LGBTQ protections at crossroads in Nebraska Legislature

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature stands at a crossroads in 2023 regarding LGBTQ Nebraskans, with critical bills that could expand or limit protections. This session’s proposals include restrictions on what bathrooms transgender youths could use and which athletic teams they could participate in. Other bills could expand nondiscrimination policies to include gender identity or sexual […]

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Provocateur Charlie Kirk’s visit to Lincoln brings protesters, alleged vandalism

LINCOLN — Lincoln police are investigating alleged vandalism at a Lincoln business after a Saturday visit by conservative provocateur and anti-trans advocate Charlie Kirk that drew protesters. The Lancaster County Republican Party hosted Kirk at an east Lincoln reception hall, Suite One Eleven. Graffiti was found on a pillar outside the building after Kirk had […]

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McDonnell in crosshairs of fellow Dems on abortion, trans debates

OMAHA — The Douglas County Democratic Party this week soundly rejected the leadership bid by a Democratic state senator who could cast the decisive vote to effectively ban elective abortions in Nebraska. The county party’s steering group voted 17-3 Wednesday against a push by State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha to join the central committee […]

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Nebraska Pride: a women’s tackle football team says, “Let us prove you wrong.”

It’s been a recurring theme. A season with more losses than wins and an opportunity to rebuild. That’s been a familiar feeling in Nebraska when it comes to football.  The Nebraska Pride, a professional women’s tackle football team based in Omaha, finds itself in a similar situation to the Husker Football team. Both programs are […]

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Proposed restrictions on Nebraska school bathrooms, sports teams trigger tense hearing

LINCOLN — Tensions rose Monday as dozens testified on a bill that would define school bathrooms and sports teams as biologically male or female. Legislative Bill 575, proposed by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha would supersede a Gender Participation Policy adopted by the Nebraska School Activities Association for sponsored athletics. The NSAA is a nonprofit […]

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Nebraska lawmaker renews bill to protect physicians’ ‘right of conscience’

LINCOLN — A revived legislative proposal would protect health care providers’ “right of conscience,” allowing physicians to decline to provide a service if it would violate their beliefs. Legislative Bill 810, proposed by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, would adopt the “Medical Ethics and Diversity Act,” defining a “right of conscience” violation as a service […]

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Proposed gender-alteration ban for minors draws hundreds to Nebraska Capitol

LINCOLN — Supporters and opponents testified for about seven hours Wednesday on State Sen. Kathleen Kauth’s proposal to ban gender-altering care for minors in Nebraska. Legislative Bill 574 — the “Let Them Grow Act” — would prohibit health care providers from administering to patients younger than 19 medical interventions such as puberty blockers, hormone treatments […]

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U.S. House GOP preps for debates on parents’ rights, school vouchers and transgender athletes

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans laid the groundwork for some top legislative priorities during a Wednesday hearing that examined public funding for charter schools and voucher programs, as well as increasing parents’ oversight of school curriculum.  The Republican chair of the Education and the Workforce Committee, North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx, provided a forum for […]

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Letter signed by 1,500 people urges Children’s Hospital to oppose proposed gender care ban

More than 1,500 people as of Monday signed onto a letter urging the Omaha Children’s Hospital and Medical Center board of directors to oppose legislation that would ban gender-affirming health care for minors in Nebraska. The bill would also ban medical providers from referring patients to doctors who perform gender-affirming care for minors and would […]

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Social issues defining first weeks of Legislature likely to dominate session

After the introduction of two bills to address LGBTQ and transgender Nebraskans, State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln abruptly called for the Legislature to adjourn “Sine Die” on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The motion means to adjourn without a future date for reconvening and, if successful, would have ended the 90-day session abruptly on its ninth […]

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Keeping Up With the Legislature: Days 9-12 (Jan. 16-20)

In the third week of the Nebraska Legislature’s 2023 session, state senators approved the session’s permanent rules and considered a motion that could have ended the Legislature at a fraction of its 90-day session. Senators introduced 348 bills and five resolutions or constitutional amendments during the third week. Gov. Jim Pillen also unveiled his tax […]

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State senators propose age restrictions, penalties for drag show performances

A proposed bill in the Nebraska Legislature would add an age limit to drag shows in the state and prohibit state agencies from using state funds to host drag shows. LB371 introduced by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil would restrict drag performances to people 19 years of age or older, or 21 years of […]

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Club Q survivors at U.S. House hearing denounce anti-LGBTQ rhetoric

Survivors of a deadly attack at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs and other advocates told a U.S. House panel Wednesday that political rhetoric and policy fights dehumanize LGBTQ people and contribute to such violence. Democrats and Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee largely sympathized with the survivors, but drew different conclusions […]

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Biden signs law extending marriage protections to same-sex and interracial couples

WASHINGTON — Same-sex and interracial couples had many of their marriage rights codified Tuesday when President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan marriage equality bill during a ceremony attended by thousands outside the White House.  In a brief speech, Biden told supporters on the South Lawn that “marriage is a simple proposition — who do you […]

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Pride flags and ‘safe space’ stickers: signal of student safety or political speech?

OMAHA — Some local parents and students consider a pride flag or “safe space” stickers displayed in a handful of Omaha suburban high school classrooms as inappropriately political. But these symbols aren’t political to local LGBTQ students. To them, these handheld flags, stickers and supportive posters help them feel accepted and safe. That is why […]

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