Teens Reject Confirmation in Projest of UMC Stance on LGBT Clergy

While the article doesn't state whether these kids are LGBT or LGBT friendly, it doesn't matter. That they would stand up to established religion is amazing to me. I do not have a problem with people believing in God or A god or nothing at all. It's the organized religions that tell people how to believe that ticks me off. And this is organized religion telling people that homosexuality and bisexuality and transgender people are wrong. We ain't. You are.

OMAHA, Neb. - A group of teenagers decided not to stand by and watch as the United Methodist Church voted in favor of anti-LGBT measures.

The confirmation class of 2019 was all set to finally become full members of their church -- the First United Methodist Church in Omaha, Nebraska -- after a year of learning about their faith and exploring their beliefs.

But when it came time to join, the eight teens decided against it.

"We want to be clear that, while we love our congregation, we believe that the United Methodist policies on LGBTQ+ clergy and same sex marriage are immoral," the group wrote in a statement. "We are concerned that if we join at this time, we will be sending a message that we approve of this decision."

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Religious freedom overrides NE LGBT Bill

Two dozen states - that's half the country - don't feel the need to protect us and our jobs. All because someone else's religion is more important than our right to work and make money to feed and clothe ourselves and our families. Bullshit!! I say you SHOULD be punished for your beliefs if your god is instructing you to hate others.

Nebraska is one of more than two dozen states that have no LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections at the state level. That’s not changing anytime soon, as a bill to create employment protections came to an abrupt end this week.

State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks (D) introduced LB 627 in January this year. The legislation would have updated all relevant state statutes to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Pansing Brooks, whose son is gay, pleaded with fellow lawmakers Tuesday to consider the bill.

Pansing Brooks nearly secured the 25-vote majority she needed for passage, but could not find the 33 votes she needed to overcome a filibuster-ending cloture motion. Opponents of the bill claimed that it would be used to target religious business owners in the state and punish them for their beliefs.

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