FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13th, 2023

 Equality Illinois applauds new Illinois law protecting access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare

CHICAGO - With Governor Pritzker's approval of House Bill 4664 on Friday, Illinois is making history as one of the first states to further protections for patients, providers, and families who access reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming healthcare.

"LGBTQ+ communities across the country are under attack," said Mony Ruiz-Velasco, Equality Illinois Deputy Director. "Trans people in particular are in urgent need of protection and access to the health care they need and deserve, including abortion and gender-affirming care. This legislation ensures essential protections and access."

"We applaud and thank Governor Pritzker, Senator Villanueva, Representative Cassidy, President Harmon, Speaker Welch, and their colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly for their leadership and perseverance to protect providers, patients, and families in Illinois and those who may come to our great state seeking reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming care and protection from anti-equality, anti-choice states," said Mike Ziri, Equality Illinois Director of Public Policy. "Thank you for ensuring that Illinois keeps moving forward."

Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson said, "We appreciate our deep partnership with the providers who care for patients and families and who we advocated with for this important legislation, including Planned Parenthood Illinois Action and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri. We are humbled to be in this ongoing fight with you to advance human rights and access to affirming healthcare."

HB 4664 takes effect immediately.

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