ACLU, OutNebraska hosting event 30 years after killing of Lincoln transgender man

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The American Civil Liberties Union and OutNebraska are remembering the murder of 21-year-old Lincoln native and transgender man, Brandon Teena.

The ACLU and OutNebraska are hosting an event Monday to discuss Brandon’s life, trans rights and visibility, and proposed laws in the Nebraska Legislature, including Legislative Bill 574.

Filmmakers Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir will both be a part of a panel, which will precede the showing of their documentary, “The Brandon Teena Story.”

“If you have these bills pass, and they can’t get treatment, they can’t get care,” Muska said. “It leads to further discrimination, I mean it’s insane.”

Olafsdottir called legislation like the “Let Them Grow Act,” an act of “hate.”

“It’s remarkable that we are back here again, that this is an issue,” she said.

The ACLU said organizers invited “all 49 Nebraskan Senators” to attend the event.

“I think by these laws, you are saying that there is a part of the population that is lesser than others,” Olafsdiffer said.

The proposed law will be debated at least one more time before it can be signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen, but Olafsdiffer says youth won’t stand for the divisive legislation.

“This generation that we see, and their parents, they are not going to be quiet. They’re not.”

This event’s registration has reached capacity, but more information can be found here.