..::Nebraska Democratic GLBT Caucus - News and Announcements::..

Accomplishments, emphasizing last three months:

1) Meet monthly since August 2004.

2) Established web-site: www.lgbtdemocrats.org

3) Sponsored two educational forums in Spring 2005:

a) Gay youth panel...30 with excellent media coverage (Lincoln Journal Star; Channel 8; Channel 10/11). Also had a federal judge and his wife attended. Gay youth spoke about harassment in their lives. ACLU talked about several public school harassment suits here in NE. Gay Lesbian Student Education Network and Citizens for Equal Protection information made available, as well as representatives spoke.

b) Victory Fund, national organization assisting qualified, openly gay/lesbians run for public office. VF spoke about identifying and supporting LGBT candidates for elective office in Nebraska.

4) Ran our first openly gay/lesbian candidate for elective office in Nebraska this spring - Barbara Baier for Lincoln Board of Education, who won by 13%. She also experienced some relatively vicious attacks personally, accused of promoting a "gay agenda," etc. Victory Fund was very helpful. Baier's campaign focused on her platform to keep local property taxes down, while maintaining excellence in Lincoln Public Schools. Baier also raised $10,000 in local donations, recruited 50 volunteers, and received important local endorsements for the position. She nurtured her strong ties with various minority communities in Lincoln, as well as rank and file teachers, liberal Methodist and religious denominations' ministers, etc. throughout her campaign.

5) Strong, active presence with Anne Boyle's campaign in Omaha, providing volunteers and donations.

6) Staffed booths at both Nebraska Pride (Omaha) and Lincoln Pride events in June. Also, featured a vehicle in Nebraska Pride Parade, co-sponsored with Citizens for Equal Protection. Baier spoke at both events, with 1,500 in audience in Omaha and 200 in Lincoln.

7) Citizens for Equal Protection, affiliated with the LGBT Caucus, passed legislation to end employment discrimination in university settings. Nearly passed a bill doing the same for all state employees. Also, advocated for LB 627, Anti-Bullying Bill, impacting local school districts, protecting all minority children from verbal and physical harassment within the educational environment.

8) Conducted two-part series of televised and video streamed interviews with Amy Miller, ACLU Staff`Attorney, regarding recent overturning of 416 (Defense of Marriage Amendment), now called Section 29 of the Nebraska Constitution. Shows aired on Channel 13, Lincoln, Time Warner, and can be viewed on the Lancaster County Democrats web-site. VHS tapes and DVDs will be available for discussion groups across the state.

9) The caucus has started to emphasize membership recruitment. We have 200 on e-mail list and 50 active members who volunteer, attend meetings, pay dues, donate to campaigns, etc. Caucus was also critical to Baier's success as a candidate, as a source of dependable volunteers and substantial donations.

10) The caucus plans to sponsor several large educational events this fall in partnership with LGBT groups on the University of Nebraska campus, fund raisers, etc. Topics will include: Harassment of gay/lesbian youth and its relationship to harassment of other minorities; Author of "Lavender Left" will come to speak about exploiting the LGBT community particularly during the 1940s and 1950s to attack political opponents (e.g., Sens. Joseph McCarthy & Kenneth Wherry (NE-Republican) and its relationship to present political scene; Outreach "Gay Summit" to include more of LGBT community in Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, etc.