PFLAG OMAHA - Community News Archive: April 2004

A group of same-sex couples will go to the Douglas County Clerk’s office on May 17 to request marriage licenses.

The Rev. Barbara Sagat, pastor of Omaha’s Metropolitan Community Church, and her committed partner, the Rev. Sharon Stover, will lead the effort as they have done on two earlier occasions.

This effort will coincide with the date that Massachusetts is expected to start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. May 17 was set by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court when it legalized gay marriage five months ago.

Both previous times, Revs. Sagat and Stover were turned away because of Nebraska’s ban on same-sex unions. In 2000, Nebraska voters passed Initiative 416 that amended the Nebraska Constitution to ban same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships.

Rev. Sagat expects to be rejected again this time. But by requesting the licenses, “we will show the Omaha and Nebraska community that we desire the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples,” she said.

The 2004 Pride festival and parade will be June 19 in downtown Omaha.

Omaha PFLAG will hear about plans for this year’s Pride event at its May 13 meeting. Pride Chair Troy Haasis will speak. Aspen Brooks, who is Miss Gay Pride Nebraska 2003, will attend.

The meeting, starting at 7 p.m. with support time, will be in Mead Hall at the west end of First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St., with coffee and socializing at 6:30 p.m. The program will be at 8 p.m.

At the annual Pride celebration, Omaha PFLAG members and supporters will march in a group in the parade, which will begin at 11 a.m. at 10th and Pacific Streets. The parade will head north on 10th Street and turn west onto Jackson Street, moving to 16th Street where it will disband.

The festival, featuring exhibits and entertainment on 15th Street from Leavenworth to Jackson Streets, will run from noon to 11 p.m.. The parade route and festival location are the same as last year.

This year’s parade grand marshal, selected through balloting, is Eric Anderson, owner of Club Joy in downtown Omaha. PFLAG members Wally Bacon, Judy Hancock and D. Moritz were nominated for grand marshal, along with the winner Eric Anderson and Jason Fienhold

With the nation debating the issue of same-sex marriages, First United Methodist Church will sponsor a showing of the recently completed documentary film, “In My Father’s Church.”

The film will be shown at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St.—with hors d’oeuvres and coffee at 6 p.m.

The documentary follows the filmmaker as she prepares for a Holy Union ceremony uniting her with her lesbian partner. One issue is the question of whether her father, a United Methodist pastor, will preside over the ceremony in defiance of church policy.

The filmmaker, Charissa King, will come to Omaha for the showing, as will her father, the Rev. Jack King. They will take part in a panel discussion immediately following the 50-minute film.

At noon on Sunday, May 23, a light meal will be served at the church, immediately followed by the second showing of “In My Father’s Church.”

The weekend’s events are free to the public. No tickets are required. A free-will offering will be taken. Child care is available by request. Call Sue Rood at the church, 556-6262, Ext. 1008, for child care.