FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27th, 2023

Equality Illinois and a diverse coalition of organizations Demand Cultural Competency Training for all Healthcare Professionals

A diverse coalition of organizations are coming together to rally and deliver petitions to the Illinois State Medical Society to urge them to support HB 2280 and SB 2427, a bill that requires consistent cultural competency training for all healthcare professionals.

There is real harm being caused to people with disabilities, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, people living with HIV, intersex people, immigrants with or without status, and people of diverse faiths by the fact that cultural competency training is not required for healthcare providers. HB 2280 and SB 2427 will save lives by requiring cultural competency training for all healthcare professionals in Illinois. This is already required in several other states. Cultural competency should be part of continuing medical education in Illinois, too. Illinoisans across the state have spoken and we will deliver thousands of petitions to the Medical Society demanding that they support this basic requirement for training that will save lives. 

Sponsoring organizations (in formation): Equality Illinois, Access Living, Illinois Nurse Association, Brave Space Alliance, Chicago Therapy Collective, Prairie Pride Coalition, ALMA Chicago, Citizen Action/Illinois, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, and Peoria Proud