Justin Lewis doesn't wear dresses to work anymore.
A boss of the the gender-fluid Lincoln resident told Lewis he wasn't dressing masculine enough to work.
"I'd like to wear one (dress) every once in a while, on days like today," said Lewis, carrying an umbrella to block the sun.Â
While that boss moved on, the reprimand stuck with Lewis as an example of workplace discrimination, which Lewis and hundreds of other allies and members of the LGBT community emphasized as part of Sunday's Pride March in downtown Lincoln.
Over 200 people, some holding signs and waving rainbow Pride flags, met at the north end of the state Capitol to celebrate improvements in the LGBT community, but to also advocate for improved human rights -- like protection against workplace discrimination.
The march, which looped north up 16th Street and circled back to the Capitol along Centennial Mall, was one of several Pride marches across the country in conjunction with the Equality March in Washington, D.C.
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Pride marches in cities like Los Angeles turned into "resist" marches against President Donald Trump after he refused to recognize June as National Gay Pride Month.Â
Pride March organizer Kevin Tjeerdsma said the annual march usually draws around 100 people in Lincoln, but in the current political climate the LGBT community sees an increased need to defend its rights.
"A lot of LGBT people are concerned about rights being taken away, like marriage equality," Tjeerdsma said.
Carrie Hansen, a Lincoln woman who identifies as bisexual, said a lot of the issues concerning LGBT rights center around the state Legislature.
Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld, for example, spearheaded a bill in this year's legislative session prohibiting workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
But the bill stalled after no vote was taken.
Lewis said inactivity over workplace discrimination coupled with Nebraska's status as a Right to Work state creates a "toxic environment" for members of the LGBT community.
There have been improvements in Nebraska, however, with same-sex marriage attaining a legal status in 2015, he said.
"There's actually a really strong queer culture here (in Lincoln)," Lewis said. "And day-to-day, I usually have positive interactions."
A slew of speakers rallied the crowd before and after the march, including Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb and Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz.
Omaha teacher and Heartland Pride outreach director Nikkie Trahan came to Lincoln to stand up for LBGT educators and students.
Trahan said she experienced workplace discrimination because of her sexual orientation.
"My job performance should be reflective of my pay and my status, not who I love or who I spend my life with," Trahan said.