NEMAHA COUNTY --  A new group is forming in southeast Nebraska for the statewide LGBTQ+ community. Nikki Hayes, originally from Auburn, said she grew up in a fairly conservative community but started to see the problems that arise in rural communities when her son came out as trans.

Some of those challenges, Hayes said, include a lack of resources, acceptance, and privacy in small towns.

That's why she's asking people to join a new Facebook group called CORN, or 'Coming Out in Rural Nebraska.

"The LGBTQ+ community is not going away," she said. "It's time for us to open our hearts. When you open your heart and your mind and your life to these ideas, it really can only improve your life." 

The group has 120 members so far. Still in its early stages, 'CORN' is planning to host a roundtable discussion in October with family, allies, and people who are LGBTQ+.

"We want to make spaces to make an impact [...] and help people feel comfortable," Hayes said.