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Nevada among leaders in LGBTQ+ protection, but challenges remain

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Nevada among leaders in LGBTQ+ protection, but challenges remain


LGBTQ+ students across the United States are facing the violence and victimization that has come with being used as political pawns for the advancement of the conservative movement. Their personhood is being questioned by authority figures, their efforts to build community are being oppressed at school, and their rights are being debated by callous talking heads on a national stage. And that’s on top of navigating a perma-pandemic, underfunded schools and the general challenges of transition into adulthood. Our young people are struggling. 

Last year the Silver State Equality LGBTQ+ Student Advisory Council was formed to investigate the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ students in Nevada and bring that information to the larger community, and specifically to decision-makers. The council of 12 students and seven adult mentors created and distributed a survey asking Nevada LGBTQ+ students about inclusivity in school resources and curriculum, as well as bullying and discrimination. The council also had in-depth conversations about their own experiences and with other students. Here are the results of that survey.

More: ‘Heartbreaking’ findings in survey of Nevada LGBTQ+ students

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It’s becoming more widely known that Nevada has some of the strongest protections for LGBTQ+ people and families, and we are proud of the legislative work we’ve done to secure those. One of the legislative victories we’re most proud of is Assembly Bill 261, which passed in 2021 and mandates diversity and inclusion in statewide academic standards, particularly the history and contributions of enumerated groups historically underrepresented. Of course, implementation of these mandates takes time, bureaucracy, money and cooperation, but it’s notable that 39.1% of students we surveyed reported never learning about LGBTQ+ history, being assigned books by LGBTQ+ authors, or hearing LGBTQ+ stories or people referenced in class. Students in rural schools were even less likely to have experienced LGBTQ+ curriculum than students in urban schools.

During the listening campaign, several students commented that they know Nevada is a relatively good place for LGBTQ+ people, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot left to do. One Nevada high schooler said many of their LGBTQ+ peers are thinking of staying in state for college because there are more protections for queer people here than many other states. They said, “It’s hard sometimes, every time I hear about hate happening anywhere, I get a little more scared to leave my house and go to school. I know legally I’m protected in Nevada, but individually, I don’t feel it as much.” 

In fact, 38.7 percent of students we surveyed say they do not feel secure at school, and 79.4% reported having experienced discrimination from those in authority for their LGBTQ+ identity. That’s nearly 80 percent of surveyed students reported being discriminated against by school authority figures for their LGBTQ+ status. One Nevada 12th grader, said, “The (school) climate right now is very toxic and mentally taxing.”

And while every group within the LGBTQ+ community faces unique challenges, we should have a particular awareness of the experiences of trans and gender-diverse students. Many of the policies currently being waged against our young people are directly targeting trans and nonbinary students — specifically their clothes, their bathrooms, their names, their pronouns and their medical care. In this wide rural state, there are many of these young people in dire situations. 

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If you’ve been to a public meeting of your library or school board recently, there’s a chance you’ve heard the overwhelming statistics about the suicide rate of young trans people. The Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People found that 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth. However, I want to add some important context to this data. Trans and nonbinary young people are not suicidal because they are trans and nonbinary. They are suicidal because of the way people treat them for being trans and nonbinary. Their transness and beautiful nonbinary identities are being pathologized and threatened by grown adults using children for their political agendas, and the spewing of hate speech and disgraceful rhetoric turns into agenda items and policy ideas. It turns into other youth hearing what their parents say. And it turns into bullying and violence at school, which turns into young people wanting to end their lives. There are very real consequences for students to the social and political climate created by adults. Shame on them.

Another thing to note about LGBTQ+ young people is that they are smart, they are organizing, and they are not alone. I’m simultaneously watching adult allies, parents, teachers, activists and experts showing up for these students. And through the process of this survey, I met several teachers who are bravely standing up for these students and their rights at school. 

There will always be good people who see what’s happening and try to help. Thank you to those teachers hosting the Gay Straight Alliance student groups in their classrooms at lunch, or showing up to six-hour school board meetings after long work days. We see you, and we need you. Together, we will continue to hear these students, make their needs known, and do everything in our power to keep them safe –— including creating more legislation to explicitly protect them. 

If you’re an ally to young LGBTQ+ people and have a group who would like to hear more about our survey, contact me at jessica@silverstateequality.org to arrange a presentation.

Jessica Munger is the program director for Silver State Equality.

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More than 270,000 Nevadans have participated in the primary elections

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More than 270,000 Nevadans have participated in the primary elections


More than a quarter-million Nevadans had participated in the state’s primary elections as of Friday afternoon, a few hours before the two weeks of early voting concluded.

The 270,008 people who had voted in person or returned a mail ballot amounted to a roughly 11 percent participation rate out of the more than 2.4 million active and inactive registered voters in Nevada as of Monday.

At least 181,139 ballots had been returned statewide, and 86,869 people had voted in person since May 23.

Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar, Nevada’s chief election official, said Friday that the early voting process had proceeded without hiccups, crediting county clerks and election workers.

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“Everything has gone very smoothly,” he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Clerks have been preparing for this moment since the day after the 2024 election.”

Aguilar said he otherwise wished turnout was higher.

Nevadans who want to vote in person still have one final chance: on Election Day Tuesday.

Those who wish to mail back their ballots can do so through that day, although Aguilar recommends that they take them to drop boxes or polling locations instead, to ensure that they are counted.

For now, Nevada law allows returned mail ballots to be counted several days after Election Day. Ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted for up to four days, while mail returned without a legible postmark is accepted for up to three days.

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A Supreme Court ruling — which is expected to come down after the primaries — could lead to the reversal of laws in Nevada and about a dozen other states that allow the counting of mail ballots received days after Election Day.

If the higher court rules against Mississippi, whose law was challenged by the Republican National Committee and the Mississippi Libertarian Party, the change could go into effect as early as November’s midterm elections.

“As opposed to any of the president’s executive orders, we can’t challenge a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court or file a lawsuit against it,” Aguilar said in late May. “We have to accept it.”

About 57,000 Clark County residents had voted early and in person as of Friday afternoon, state data showed. Almost 108,000 had returned their mail ballots.

Aguilar said that he’s been encouraging clerks to push voters whose mail ballots require signature verification, a process known as curing, to get it done as soon as possible.

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Clark County had flagged at least 1,621 ballots that needed curing as of Friday afternoon. At least 543 of those voters had since verified their signatures.

There is a plethora of nonpartisan and partisan local, state and federal races on the ballot. Some can be won outright this month. For others, like congressional and the governor’s races, voters will have a chance to dwindle the field that will then face off in November.

Nevada offers same-day, in-person registration for inactive voters, which requires a state identification card. Registered voters can track their ballots at myballot.nv.gov and update their contact information at vote.nv.gov.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.

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Missing person alert canceled after North Las Vegas man found dead

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Missing person alert canceled after North Las Vegas man found dead


Update| A missing person alert issued in North Las Vegas has been canceled after the person was found dead.

The North Las Vegas Police Department said the missing person alert has been canceled and that the person has been identified as a man found deceased on Wednesday.

Original| North Las Vegas police are asking for the public’s help to find a missing endangered man who walked away from his home early Wednesday and did not return.

Raul Soriano was last seen Wednesday, June 3, at about 3 a.m. at his residence in the 2600 block of West Lake Mead Boulevard.

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Police said he left home in an unknown direction to go to the store and never came back.

Soriano is a 75-year-old Asian man who is about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds. He has short white hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a T-shirt, black pants and a black hat.

Police said Soriano walks slowly with a noticeable limp. He was not wearing his dentures and has no teeth. Police said he has diabetes and requires medication.

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Anyone with information about Soriano’s whereabouts is asked to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department at 702-633-9111.



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State Fair of Nevada returns to Reno. Here’s what to know

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State Fair of Nevada returns to Reno. Here’s what to know


The State Fair of Nevada returns to Reno June 11-13 with livestock shows, youth competitions, entertainment, carnival rides and new attractions.

“We are excited to welcome families and communities from across Nevada back to the official State Fair of Nevada,” said Nevada Department of Agriculture Director J.J. Goicoechea in a news release. “After 16 years, a Nevada tradition is finally returning, something many families have waited years to experience again.”

The fair will take place at the Nevada State Fairgrounds, including the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center and Reno Rodeo Arena.

Here’s what to know about the upcoming event.

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What’s planned for the State Fair of Nevada

The fair will feature several events: the Nevada Junior Livestock Show and Sale, University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s 4-H Expo, a Made in Nevada Farmers’ Market and Next Generation Junior Bull Riding.

Organizers have also announced an opening-night concert featuring country artist Caleb Montgomery, a drone show, local vendors, food and art displays, carnival rides and other entertainment.

The Traeger Smoke Show, a public barbecue competition, is scheduled for Saturday, June 13. Participants will prepare smoked and grilled dishes for judging, with the winner receiving a Woodridge Elite Traeger Smoker. Registration information is available at statefair.nv.gov/contests-shows.

Why the State Fair of Nevada is returning to Reno

Assembly Bill 333, passed during the 2025 legislative session, restored the Nevada State Fairgrounds, originally endowed to the Department of Agriculture in 1867, back under the agency’s control.

The new law also reaffirmed that the director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture determines the official state fair, clearing the path for the event’s return.

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The State Fair ran from 1874 until 2010. The Fair Board voted to dissolve it amid financial problems, ending a 136-year run.

How much do State Fair of Nevada tickets cost?

Opening-day tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for children 12 and younger. The tickets include admission to the fair and the opening-night concert featuring Caleb Montgomery.

General admission on June 12 and June 13 costs $10 for adults and $7 for children 12 and younger each day.

Fairgoers can also purchase all-inclusive wristbands for $50 for adults and $30 for children 12 and younger. The wristbands include admission all three days, the opening-night concert and Next Generation Junior Bull Riding.

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The June 12 bull riding event is also available as a separate add-on to general admission tickets for $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger.

A Picon Punch tasting event for attendees 21 and older is available as an add-on June 12, with tickets ranging from $15 to $25.

Carnival rides require separate tickets.



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