Nebraska Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights

The Nebraska Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights, later called the Nebraska Coalition for LGBT Civil Rights, was an advocacy group in Nebraska that existed from 1981 to approximately 2002. It was based in Lincoln. The group advocated for LGBT civil rights. Its motto was "equality before the law," the same motto as the state of Nebraska.[1]

History

Founding

The Nebraska Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights was founded in 1981 to support a proposed amendment to a Lincoln city ordinance. The amendment would have outlawed discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and affectional orientation. Coalition spokesman Scott Stebelman said that about fifty people were working together in the new Coalition.[2]

Fierce opposition to the proposed amendment was led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln psychologist Paul Cameron. Coalition members refused to debate Cameron, saying "the coalition's feeling was we would debate any reasonable psychologist, but did not believe Paul Cameron fell into that class."[3]

At election time, the amendment was defeated by a 4-to-1 margin. The Coalition refocused on community advocacy instead of elections.[4]

The organization that Cameron founded to oppose the amendment would become the Family Research Institute, a nationally influential producer of pseudoscience against homosexuality. The Nebraska Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights argued against Cameron's publications conflating homosexuality with child abuse.[5] Their arguments contributed to Cameron's eventual expulsion from the American Psychological Association.

In 1983 the Coalition sponsored an event, the Great Plains Conference of Gay Men and Lesbians. Attendees from the plains states discussed recent failures to pass civil rights measures in the region.[6]

The AIDS epidemic

The Coalition distributed brochures on safe sex practices in the mid 1980s. The brochures sought to dispel the then-common myth that AIDS is spread by casual contact.[7]

The Coalition partnered with the Nebraska AIDS Project in 1986 to mail a survey to medical providers throughout Nebraska asking if providers would accept gay and lesbian patients or patients at risk for HIV. The responses were used to create a referral list of safe providers.[8]

The 1990s

In 1993 the Nebraska legislature considered a bill, LB 395, to ban employment discrimination against gays and lesbians. California-based Christian fundamentalist leader Lou Sheldon was brought to Lincoln by the Nebraska chapter of the Traditional Values Coalition to speak against LB 395. Sheldon claimed the bill was part of a nationwide anti-family "homosexual agenda". The Nebraska Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights coordinated a protest to counter Sheldon's statements. About fifty demonstrators appeared in front a local restaurant, the Green Gateau, chosen because of the belief that it had recently fired an employee for being gay.[9]

In the 1990s the Coalition sponsored poetry readings and dances that served as an alternative to socializing in gay bars.[10]

The 2000s marriage fight

The Coalition opposed a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage in Nebraska. After the amendment passed in 2000, the Coalition protested the victory party of the Nebraska Family Council, the organization that had spearheaded the amendment.[11]

The Coalition staged a protest for marriage equality in 2002, forming a human chain of supporters around the Nebraska State Capitol.[12] It was the first time since World War II that a human chain was formed around the building.[13]

The organization also had social events in 2002[14] but faded from existence shortly afterward. Same-sex marriage remained unlawful in Nebraska until the 2015 Waters v. Ricketts and Obergefell v. Hodges court rulings.

References
  1. Kindschuh, Hilary (April 11, 2002). "Human chain circles Capitol in support of gay community". The Daily Nebraskan. Lincoln, Nebraska. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  2. "Lesbians, gays claim prejudice". Lincoln Journal. July 28, 1981. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  3. "Homosexuality 'teach-in' set". The Lincoln Star. January 18, 1982. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  4. "Gay coalition pleased with election". The Lincoln Star. November 11, 1982. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  5. Riley, Katie (June 21, 1984). "Gay coalition attacks study". Lincoln Journal. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  6. "Lincoln group plans conference on gays". The Lincoln Star. May 30, 1983. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  7. "Coalitions brochures educate, don't scare". Lincoln Journal Star. November 17, 1985. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  8. Young, JoAnne (March 18, 1986). "Gay coalition creates medical referral list". The Lincoln Star. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  9. Joyce, James (October 13, 1993). "Sexuality civil rights sought during protest at restaurant". The Lincoln Star. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  10. Bogues, Maureen (August 17, 1991). "Bars remain integral part of gay social life". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  11. Baker, Tess. "Family Council celebrates". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  12. Tetreault, Pat (December 2014). Proud Heritage: People, Issues, and Documents of the LGBT Experience. 1. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 1055. ISBN 9781610693981.
  13. McCormick, Carina (April 10, 2002). "Humans to link in support of LGBT rights". The Daily Nebraskan. Lincoln, Nebraska. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  14. Manthey, Toby (July 14, 2002). "Gay, lesbian families share pride at the park". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
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