Nebraska Governor Slams Lincoln Public Schools' LGBTQ+ Advocate Job Posting

Governor Pillen calls the position 'woke garbage' that has 'no place in our schools'

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has criticized a job posting by Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) for an LGBTQ+ advocate specialist, calling it 'woke garbage' that has 'no place in our schools'. The position is not new, having been part of LPS programming since 2015, but a recent social media post about the job listing has drawn negative responses from state leaders.

Why it matters

The dispute over the LGBTQ+ advocate position highlights ongoing political tensions around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public schools. Governor Pillen has vowed to 'rip woke and DEI indoctrination out of our schools' through his budget, while Lincoln Public Schools maintains the position is aligned with anti-discrimination laws and aimed at supporting student needs.

The details

The LGBTQ+ advocate specialist position is part of LPS's Student Advocate program, which provides academic and cultural support to students, families and staff. The program has existed since 2010 and was expanded in 2015 to address priorities outlined in Title IV-A federal education funding. The specific LGBTQ+ advocate role was added in 2022. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers criticized the position as a 'disappointing spending decision' when LPS has issues with chronic student absenteeism that need more resources.

  • The Student Advocate program at LPS began in 2010.
  • The program was expanded in 2015 to address Title IV-A priorities.
  • The LGBTQ+ advocate specialist position was added in 2022.

The players

Jim Pillen

The Governor of Nebraska who criticized the LPS job posting as 'woke garbage' that has 'no place in our schools'.

Mike Hilgers

The Nebraska Attorney General who called the LGBTQ+ advocate position a 'disappointing spending decision' by LPS when the district has issues with chronic student absenteeism.

Lincoln Public Schools

The school district that posted the job listing for an LGBTQ+ advocate specialist as part of its Student Advocate program, which has existed since 2010.

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What they’re saying

“Woke garbage is exactly what it is, and it has no place in our schools. We need to end it, and my budget will give Nebraska the tools necessary to rip woke and DEI indoctrination out of our schools.”

— Jim Pillen, Governor of Nebraska (Twitter)

“LPS has a really serious chronic absenteeism problem--which impacts kids, families, and our community in a material way--and I've heard from teachers who are concerned about the lack of resources devoted to helping solve the problem. This is just taking their eye off the ball.”

— Mike Hilgers, Nebraska Attorney General (Twitter)

What’s next

Governor Pillen is expected to include measures in his upcoming budget proposal to address what he calls 'woke and DEI indoctrination' in Nebraska schools.

The takeaway

The dispute over the LGBTQ+ advocate position in Lincoln Public Schools reflects the ongoing political battles over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in education, with the governor vowing to 'rip woke' programs out of the state's schools despite the district's stance that the role is aligned with anti-discrimination laws and aimed at supporting student needs.