Brody's Notes... Nebraska Capital City's LGBT Fairness Amendment Will Not Appear On Ballot

By Chris Dyer | LINCOLN, NE -- A member of Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler's staff has confirmed to LGBTQNation Thursday that the "fairness amendment" would not appear on the November ballot for Lincoln residents to vote for or against.
According to the Lincoln Journal-Star, the council agenda, released Thursday afternoon, has nothing on it relating to a ballot issue providing civil rights protection in Lincoln based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
David J. Shively, the Lancaster County election commissioner, of which the city of Lincoln is a part of, said that in order for the measure to appear on the ballot for a vote by the September 4 deadline, the language for a ballot issue would have to be on Monday’s City Council agenda by Monday August 20.
Diane Gonzolas, a spokeswoman for Mayor Beutler told the paper;

"After much discussion with Carl Eskridge (the city councilman who has been promoting the fairness issue), it was decided the issue would not be on the November ballot." She added, "Councilman Eskridge will be discussing the future of the fairness ordinance and vote when he returns to Lincoln next week."

The “Fairness Ordinance,” added sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s non-discrimination law and passed with a 5-0 vote May 14 with the two Republican council members abstaining. However, citizens can seek a referendum on any newly passed ordinance by collecting enough signatures in a 15-day period.

The Nebraska Family Council, and Family First, gathered petitions with 10,092 signatures by the deadline forcing the council to put the measure up for a referendum vote by city residents or let the ordinance die.

Tyler Richard, president of Outlinc, a Lincoln group supporting the "fairness amendment," said Thursday that Councilman Carl Eskridge, who is out of town this week, would be providing information on the ballot question. “We will have to wait” for Eskridge’s announcement, he said.  

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Legally, a resolution with the “fairness” language could be introduced at the Aug. 27 council meeting, with a hearing and vote on the same day, according to City Clerk Joan Ross.  ~ The Journal-Star

For now, unless the council takes actions recommended by Mayor Beutler, placing the issue on a future ballot as an amendment to the city charter, as a charter amendment proposal on a regularly scheduled election, calling for a special election, the ordinance has effectively been killed off by its opponents.