LINCOLN, Neb. - Nearly 100 current and retired faith leaders have signed a public letter urging Nebraska state senators to oppose LB 89, legislation that targets transgender Nebraskans.
The letter, published today in the Omaha World-Herald, calls on state senators to affirm the dignity of all Nebraskans and vote against the bill. The 96 signers represent a broad, interfaith coalition, including Christian, Jewish and Unitarian Universalist leaders who are serving congregations in communities across the state.
Nebraska lawmakers are expected to begin debating LB 89 Tuesday afternoon. The bill has faced strong opposition from impacted families, civil rights advocates, educators, medical professionals, and now, a growing chorus of faith leaders.
“Scripture calls us to love our neighbors, not legislate them out of public life,” said Rev. Debra McKnight, founding pastor of Urban Abbey in Omaha. “The truth is that LB 89 targets already marginalized Nebraskans with an outsized response to an issue that does not exist. As people of faith, we are called to support the vulnerable. This bill does the opposite.”
LB 89 is one of more than 560 bills seeking to restrict LGBTQ+ people’s rights in state legislatures this year according to an ACLU bill tracker. Roughly half of those bills involve restrictions on schools or students.
