Rallies, walkouts planned as Nebraska celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The LGBTQ+ community and supporters from across the country are holding rallies to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility, including Nebraskans.

One of those events is set to take place at the State Capitol here in Lincoln on Friday evening.

OutNebraska said it wants to send a reminder that trans Nebraskans aren’t going anywhere.

The organization said there will be several speakers, followed by a march.

This is all set to begin on the Capitol’s north steps at 5:30 p.m.

Friday’s rally comes as state senators are considering multiple bills that would impact Nebraska’s transgender community.

One of them would ban gender-affirming care for minors, which led to a weekslong filibuster in the Legislature.

Rules were changed this week in an attempt to speed up the passage of bills, but lawmakers behind the filibuster have promised to continue finding ways to slow the process.

In the nation’s capital, President Biden issued a Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation on Thursday.

“A wave of discriminatory State laws is targeting transgender youth, terrifying families and hurting kids who are not hurting anyone,” he said. “An epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, in particular women and girls of color, has taken lives far too soon.”

In addition to Friday’s rally in Lincoln, walkouts are expected to protest anti-trans bills.

The ACLU of Nebraska says students at Central High School in Omaha will be doing so at 2:30 p.m.