The Lincoln City Council is currently considering an ordinance redefining “sex” to include “sexual orientation and gender identity” in an entire section of the city’s municipal code, which will allow men who self-identify as female open access to women’s restrooms and locker rooms.
Under the proposed ordinance (on page 10 lines 17-18), “sex” would be redefined to mean “female, male, neither, or both, and includes, but is not limited to, sexual orientation and gender identity as well as pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions.”
By using this definition under employment, housing, and public accommodations, as the ordinance proposes, every business or organization that is open or provides goods or services to the public, including churches and Christian schools, could be impacted.
Across the country, government officials are using these proposals to threaten Americans’ constitutionally protected freedoms and force a destructive gender ideology on society.
Every person should be treated with dignity and respect and not suffer unjust discrimination. Unfortunately, coercive sexual orientation and gender identity laws undermine both fairness and freedom.
Where enacted, these policies have been used to violate bodily privacy and safety and coerce uniformity of thought and speech on beliefs about marriage, sex, and what it means to be male and female.
In the name of “equality,” this proposal ignores common sense by giving men who claim to be female (and vice versa) unfettered access to intimate places designated for women, including showers, locker rooms, and restrooms at schools, businesses, and even churches.
First Amendment freedoms and the privacy and safety of women should not be compromised by policies that empower the government to unfairly coerce those with whom it disagrees.
Disagreement is not discrimination. In a pluralistic society, laws should respect a diversity of beliefs rather than target citizens who have views different from those currently in positions of political power.
The Lincoln City Council will be voting on this ordinance soon—and they need to hear from you.
Please send an email to Lincoln City Council members, urging them not to redefine sex in Title 11 of the Lincoln Municipal Code to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Below is a sample email with talking points for you to choose from. Pick two to three bullet points and send your email to the City Council members at: councilpacket@lincoln.ne.gov
SAMPLE SCRIPT
Hello, my name is [FULL NAME], and I live in Lincoln at [ADDRESS]. I am contacting you to ask that you oppose the proposed ordinance redefining sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity in Title 11 of the Lincoln Municipal Code.
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We can all agree that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
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Where enacted, these policies have been used to violate bodily privacy and safety and coerce uniformity of thought.
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Men who self-identify as female should not have unfettered access to private spaces designated specifically for biological women, such as restrooms and locker rooms.
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Disagreement is not discrimination. These policies take away constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and provoke intolerance toward people who have beliefs different from those in political power.
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Rather than being used as a shield against actual discrimination, these gender identity policies have been used as a sword against people who don’t conform to one particular view on sex and gender.
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First Amendment freedoms and the privacy and safety of women should not be compromised by policies that empower the government to unfairly coerce those with whom it disagrees.
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I respectfully urge you not to redefine sex in Title 11 of the Lincoln Municipal Code to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Thank you for your time and for considering my request.
