Posted by: Ken Riter | February 8, 2012

Forward Equality to show Occupy Lincoln the Love!


OMAHA, NE – Forward Equality at their Board meeting on February 7th, 2012 unanimously voted to support Occupy Lincoln’s call to show the Lincoln Mayor the love .  As many of you know, Occupy Lincoln was given an ultimatum to leave the Centennial Mall by March 1st, 2011.  The Lincoln Mayor has also quipped that he would like to see more positive support for Occupy Lincoln, so Forward Equality has jumped on the bandwagon in Solidarity!

Here is an excerpt from the Occupy Lincoln event: “INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!!!!!!!! Please spread the word anyway you can! Occupy Lincoln, Nebraska has been informed that the mayor would like to hear more positive support towards Occupy Lincoln, Nebraska. Let’s flood their office with positive support!

The Occupy Lincoln group was sent a letter that they must evacuate their campsite on Centennial Mall by March 1st, 2012. On February 14th, 2012, let’s show the Mayor’s office the love. Please call them and simply tell them that you support Occupy Lincoln and/OR their right to “Occupy” Centennial Mall. If they want positive support, let’s show them positive support!

If you want to drop them a line and say the same thing, that would be great too. In fact, buy a Valentine’s Card and send it to the Mayor with your “love” for Occupy Lincoln.

Mayor’s Phone Number: 402-441-7511

Address: Office of the Mayor
555 S. 10th St. #301
Lincoln, NE 68508

Let’s Spread Some Occupy Love!”

Yes, let’s spread the love. Forward Equality!

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Posted by: Ken Riter | February 7, 2012

February Date Firm For Ben Gray’s Equal Employment Ordinance.


OMAHA, NE – Ben Gray has confirmed that February 28th will be the date that his ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes for employment and public accommodation in Omaha will be formally introduced for Omaha City Council.  So be sure and get those emails ready!  If you haven’t already sent emails about Ben Gray’s ordinance, to the Omaha City Council, please do so in the coming weeks. Please send in the email ASAP so each City Council member can have enough time so read the thousands of emails they’ll be receiving on the issue.  March 6th will be the when the public can speak on the ordinance, and the final vote will be March 13th.  I posted some information about the ordinance as well as emailing or calling the Omaha City Council back in December, I will repost that info below.

CFEP, Citizens for Equal Protection,  is launching an email campaign in support of Ben Gray’s Non-Discrimination ordinance.  Below I will have sample letter info for those council members who voted for Ben Gray’s civil rights ordinance and also a sample letter for those on the Omaha City Council who chose to vote against.  Be sure to visit the Equal Omaha site as well, they have email forms which will automatically send your email to the city clerk, making your email part of the public record. You can use the following templates there, too!  Just copy and paste, but remember to include your own words, especially any situation where you have run into problems involving sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace.

The middle part of the letter in quotes and in BOLD  is very important because this is where you tell your personal story, and why this is important to you.  There are samples in this paragraph for what to say,  but please replace the entire paragraph with YOUR words.

You can find out who your City Council member is by calling 402-444-5520.

Please email your City Council Member and remember to send a copy to: CFEPJEFF@me.com   You can do that by putting the CFEPJEFF@me.com in the CC: or BCC: spaces provided.  Be sure to tell them which district you are in as well.

Here are the email addresses for each City Council member:

Pete Festersen           pete.festersen@ci.omaha.ne.us       District 1

Ben Gray                       ben.gray@ci.omaha.ne.us                 District 2

Chris Jerram               chris.jerram@ci.omaha.ne.us          District 3

Garry Gernandt          ggernandt@ci.omaha.ne.us              District 4

Jean Stothert              jean.stothert@ci.omaha.ne.us         District 5

Franklin Thompson     fthompson@ci.omaha.ne.us         District 6

Tom Mulligan            tom.mulligan@ci.omaha.ne.us         District 7

And the email samples, First to the supporters: And please remember to use your own words, especially for the part in quotes and in BOLD.

Dear Pete Festersen, Ben Gray, Chris Jerram

Thank you very much for your vote to pass the work ordinance additions that were proposed last October , your support for the LGBT community is very much appreciated.  I look forward to your continued support as Ben Gray re-introduces this in February of 2012, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to address discrimination is a positive step forward for Omaha.

Currently, there are over 130 cities that have passed these protections including Kansas City, Dallas, Milwaukee and Salt lake City, just to name a few.  Omaha residents believe in fairness and equality, it is a big part of who we are.

“This is very important to me as a gay man, a lesbian, a brother-sister-parent-son-child-friend- because I was discriminated against for being a gay man.  Here is where you make it personal and tell why this is an important issue for you. If it is not about you, express why it is important for relatives, family, friends, or the community at large.”

I look forward to your confirmation that you will continue to support this effort to make Omaha a more welcoming place to work, live in and visit.  Omaha is truly a world class city and this is one more step into the reality.

Sincerely,

Your Name

And the email samples for those opposed: And please remember to use your own words, especially for the part in quotes and in BOLD.

Dear Jean Stothert, Gary Gernandt, Franklin Thompson, Thomas Mulligan

I am writing you today to support the job protection ordinance that will add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in the city of Omaha. This is being re-introduced in February 2012 and although you previously voted against these added protections, I would urge you to reconsider and do the right thing for Omaha.

Currently, there are over 130 cities that have passed these protections including Kansas City, Dallas, Milwaukee and Salt lake City, just to name a few.  Omaha residents believe in fairness and equality, it is a big part of who we are.

“This is very important to me as a gay man, a lesbian, a brother-sister-parent-son-child-friend- because I was discriminated against for being a gay man.  Here is where you make it personal and tell why this is an important issue for you. If it is not about you, express why it is important for relatives, family, friends, or the community at large.”

I look forward to your response as to your support for this ordinance change.

Sincerely,

Your Name

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Posted in LGBT Queer issues, Omaha City Council, Press Release, Statements | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Ken Riter | February 6, 2012

Dominion Covenant Death Cult “Church” Protest Feb 5, 2012


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Posted in Hate Groups, LGBT Queer issues, OccupyEquality Nebraska, Statements | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Ken Riter | February 2, 2012

Protest Against Dominion Covenant Will Continue Through February.


OMAHA, NE – Protests against the Dominion Covenant Anti-LGBT Cult will continue through the month of February, Sundays from 9am to 11am at the intersection of 67th and Dodge St.  Please bring any signs admonishing hate, the UNO Thompson Alumni Center and the Dominion Covenant Cult. If you can make it, that is great and would be greatly appreciated.  Please share the information so others will know, too! You can also join at the protest’s FaceBook Events Page.  For a reminder of what they do, visit their online PDF. If that link doesn’t work, go here.

I am also asking that people continue to send emails or call the UNO Thompson Alumni Center asking them to stop allowing the hateful Dominion Covenant Cult to conduct their business there. As a reminder, the Dominion Covenant Pastor supports the Death Penalty on homosexuals and adulterers.

You can contact the UNO Thompson Alumni Center CEO:

The UNO Thompson Alumni Center:                                                                                      Lee Denker
President and CEO, UNO Alumni Association
6705 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE  68182
ldenker@unoalumni.org
402-554-2851

Also, I would like to announce that I am trying to collect as much information as possible on Omaha and Nebraska based anti-LGBT hate groups. If you have any information, let me know so I can get it from you.   Things that are helpful to obtain are any tangible information or documentation, like flyers, newsletters, mailings, emails or signs that have the group’s name with their anti-LGBT soundbites. I would like to gather as much information as I can for each group, organize it for each group and send off the information to hate group experts so that we can get these type of groups listed on hate group listings across the country.  Nebraska has 8 hate groups within its borders, but none are listed as anti-LGBT, but you and I know they are here.  Where ever there are queers, there are hate groups.  I can’t think of a better way to neutralize a hate groups’ ability to network with corporations and politicians than making them forbidden fruit.   No one wants to be associated with a certified hate group. Once again, thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for any information you find.

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Posted by: Ken Riter | January 28, 2012

Nebraska GOP Gleefully Chips Away at Our Civil Liberties!


OMAHA, NE – If there is one thing Nebraska’s Big Republican Government loves to do, its to gleefully chip away at your civil liberties! Politically, economically and ignorantly they are doing this. Do you even notice its happening? There are currently no protections for the LGBT in the workplace anywhere in Nebraska. There is legislation (LB912) in the Unicam to make sure we NEVER get employment protections, even if it is just Omaha. How long before they start taking the gay bars away from us? How long before they ban drag and gay pride parades? Did you know under Omaha City Ordinance sexual orientation is listed as a protected class for marching and parades for the moment? Yet, they could not vote yes to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in employment?  One Omaha City Council Member, Franklin Thompson, even abstained from voting  on the issue of LGBT inclusive protections, yet chastised Omaha’s LGBT Community for not holding Townhall Meetings to discuss LGBT equality beforehand.  But when HRC was in Omaha back in August 2011 and city officials were invited to the HRC events, Ben Gray showed up, Jim Suttle showed up, but no Franklin Thompson.  I guess he was, what?  Abstaining?  Surprised?  Typical hypocritical Republican rhetoric.  Ridiculous.

Recently, two Unicam Senators introduced legislation that once again pushes minorities of all types to the back of the bus.   Pretty faced Charlie Janssen introduced his Voter ID bill, legislation that would clearly keep racial minorities, senior citizens, and youth away from the polls. Luckily, with virtually no support, this bill has been dropped from the agenda, but sadly the real battle for Voter ID has begun online and its growing at a massive pace.

As mentioned earlier, Beau McCoy from western Douglas County, also introduced some rather bigoted legislation as well, LB912, which would make discrimination laws a sole state power, taking away any chance of Omaha or Lincoln to expand current employment protections to sexual orientation and gender identity.  It is no surprise that his district encompasses part of the Republican wards on the Omaha City Council.  Please visit this website, Equal Nebraska, email all the members of the judiciary committee. Tell them to vote NO on LB912, tell them that each city has its own needs and should have the freedom deal with those needs as it sees fit. I find it funny to remark that if no one knew Charlie Janssen or Beau McCoy, these pretty boys could go far in one of our gay bars.  I wonder if this is what motivates them to behave the way they do?  You know they say about those who protest too much!

The fun doesn’t stop there, do-nothing Congressman Lee Terry had his name on the dreaded SOPA and PIPA bills but after a historical online strike has since removed his name from them. How often can Lee Terry jump on and jump off legislation without losing what’s left of his credibility. Lets not let him do this anymore.

Omaha is at a very important stage in its political history, it is becoming more and more progressive each year. As this progresses we see it fighting a harshly conservative state government doing all it can to stunt Omaha’s growth into the cosmopolitan city of diversity it was always meant to be.  Omaha is tilting in the right direction, the LGBT Community can play its part in this change.  We can be the change we can and need to be to see the change we want to see happen!!!

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