skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

NE Organization Expands Statewide to Counter LGBT Discrimination

play audio
Play

Monday, February 25, 2019   

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Lincoln-based group Out Nebraska has a new leader and is expanding its work for LGBTQ rights across the state.

Abbi Swatsworth, a long-time volunteer and the group's new executive director, says her goal is to educate lawmakers about the value LGBTQ communities bring to the state.

She says it's also time for Nebraska to join 21 other states to pass legislation that protects people from workplace and other discrimination.

"I think it's important for Nebraska to keep good, hard working Nebraskans in our state – to keep young people here, to grow our rural communities and the businesses that do business in Nebraska – and I think non-discrimination is one way we can do that," Swatsworth states.

Swatsworth says many Nebraskans don't realize that workers can get legally married over the weekend and get fired on Monday for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance.

She adds that while residents in Omaha have some protections against discrimination, people in the rest of the state are still at risk of losing jobs or housing.

Critics argue that laws banning discrimination could interfere with their religious beliefs.

LB 627, a statewide measure that would prohibit workplace discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity, cleared the Judiciary Committee and could be heard by the full Legislature as early as this week.

Swatsworth says the proposal would bring the state closer to living out its motto of "equality before the law."

"We believe that all hard working Nebraskans should be judged on the merits of their work, and I also believe that Nebraskans value fairness and treating others as we would treat ourselves," she states.

In addition to work during the current legislative term, which includes reaching out to potential allied organizations and preparing testimonials, Swatsworth says the next steps include hitting the road to hear from people living outside the state capital.

She says if your town might be interested in scheduling a stop on Out Nebraska’s upcoming listening tour, get in touch by visiting the group's website: outnebraska.org.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021