Brody's Notes... Opponents Of Nebraska Anti-Gay Discrimination Measure Get Enough Signatures For A Voter Referendum

Al Riskowski via Nebraska Family Council

By Chris Dyer | LINCOLN, NE -- Opponents of a measure passed by the Lincoln City Council - that was crafted to protect LGBT people against discrimination- announced Tuesday that enough signatures of registered voters had been gathered to force the city council to either repeal the measure, or place it on the November ballot for a city-wide referendum as required by the city's charter. The city charter allows citizens to seek a referendum on a newly passed ordinance by collecting enough signatures in a 15-day period.

Standing in front of a large “Let Us Vote” banner, Al Riskowski, executive director of the Nebraska Family Council, and Dave Bydalek, executive director of Family First, told reporters that 310 volunteers gathered petitions with 10,092 signatures by the 4:30 p.m. Tuesday deadline.

“The referendum is about the process. It calls for a vote of the people," said Riskowski, “It’s only fair that the City Council schedule a vote on the sexual orientation, gender identity ordinance," he said. “We followed the legal process. Now we expect them to do the same.”

Lincoln city attorney Rod Confer had previously stated that he found the language of the repeal or referendum petition flawed which prompted Family First's Bydalek to say today that he felt that the Nebraska Supreme Court would uphold the petition process even if the language is slightly flawed. “We would be in a very good position if this went to court,” he said.

Riskowski emphasized that both organizations will be asking the city's registered voters to vote against the ordinance which would have “wide-ranging ramifications” if passed.

The first step of the process is for the county election commissioner's office to check the signatures to make sure those signing are registered voters in Lincoln. If at least 2,489 registered voters signed, implementation of the ordinance is suspended and the issue goes to the City Council for a decision.

Lincoln City Election Commissioner Dave Shively said it would take his office a week or two to verify signatures.