A Nebraska lawmaker and his husband launched an LGBTQ scholarship fund, a drag show in Maryland was canceled due to a bomb threat, and neo-Nazis disrupted Drag Story Hour in New Hampshire.
Lawmaker, Spouse Fund College LGBTQ Scholarship
State Sen. John Fredrickson and his husband Jeff Formanek launched the Fredrickson-Formanek Scholars Fund at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, according to Nebraska Examiner. The fund will offer ongoing financial aid to new UNL students who advocate for LGBTQ causes and rights.
“Nebraska’s state motto is ‘Equality before the law,’” Fredrickson said in a video. “We feel so fortunate that this new program will have a real impact on building a brighter future for Nebraska and Nebraskans.”
Drag Show Canceled Due To Bomb Threat
Mike Rothman. Photo via mikerothman, Instagram.
According to the Washington Blade, a bomb threat in Takoma Park, Maryland, closed down several businesses on Dec. 9, including a drag show at local restaurant MotorKat.
MotorKat's General Manager Mike Rothman informed the Washington Blade that Takoma Park police alerted them to a bomb threat at their restaurant around noon.
“Takoma Park is a pretty proud and resilient community,” Rothman told the Washington Blade. “I don’t expect people to lay down and be scared by this.”
Neo-Nazis Disrupt Drag Story Hour
Photo via @juicygarland, X.
According to NBC News, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella filed a civil rights lawsuit on Dec.13 against a neo-Nazi organization, claiming they disturbed a drag story event at a café in June. The complaint was filed against 19 unidentified individuals linked to the New England neo-Nazi group NSC-131, known as the Nationalist Social Club, along with their 25-year-old leader Christopher Hood. They were accused of violating state anti-discrimination laws.
The event took place during Pride month at Teatotaller, a coffee shop in Concord owned by members of the LGBTQ community.
“Acts of hate designed to terrorize an individual or business into violating our State’s anti-discrimination laws are simply wrong and will not be tolerated,” Formella said in a statement. “The Department of Justice will continue to enforce the State’s anti-discrimination laws to the greatest extent possible to ensure that people of all backgrounds can live free from discrimination, fear, and intimidation because of who they are.”
