FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 28, 2022

Statement from Equality Illinois, the state’s LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, on the primary election victory Tuesday of anti-LGBTQ+, anti-choice State Sen. Darren Bailey as the Republican nominee for Illinois Governor:

“On the 53rd anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising that launched the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, Republican voters in Illinois have nominated State Sen. Darren Bailey as their gubernatorial candidate. This is a man who last year referred to LGBTQ+ inclusion as ‘perversion’ and who has voted in the extreme margins against LGBTQ+ affirming initiatives that are grounded in our state’s fundamental values of equality, fairness, and justice. He is so extreme that he was the only state senator to vote against legislation last year enhancing demographic data collection for state programming.

“Following the US Supreme Court’s attack on abortion and privacy rights last week, the more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state capitols across the country this year, and the increasing hatred and violence against trans people in Illinois and nationally, we are living in a moment of peril for LGBTQ+ people. While we have made tremendous progress in Illinois on issues of equality, fairness, and justice for all, Bailey would eagerly turn back the clock and strip LGBTQ+ people of our rights – but only if Illinois voters let him.

“We call on all voters who care about equality and inclusion to unite and reject Bailey and his cronies. We must re-elect pro-equality and pro-choice champions Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and send the unmistakable message that Illinois won’t let Darren Bailey’s bigotry and hatred anywhere near the Governor’s Office.”

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