With Gov. Pat Quinn, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and Senate President John Cullerton leading the way, last weekend’s Equality Illinois Tribute Reception to the people who made the freedom to marry a reality in Illinois was a great success. Photographer Christine Grost captured the joy of […]
As our work to eliminate discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans continues, Equality Illinois strives to make the protections as broad and as inclusive as possible. With that in mind, Equality Illinois believes the current version of ENDA – the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act – falls short because it includes a religious exemption
Six months after the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act became law, it finally went into effect statewide yesterday, and today, marriage licenses are being issued throughout the state and couples who were joined in civil unions could start converting their status to marriages if they desire. To celebrate, Equality Illinois worked with the Museum
Illinois Witnessing Historic Marriages Read More »
The countdown to marriage is underway, getting closer to June 1, 2014, when the freedom to marry finally arrives in all 102 counties of Illinois. This joyous moment means that all loving couples who want the recognition, the respect and the rights that come with marriage for them and their children will be able to
Countdown to Marriage Throughout Illinois Read More »
Designate Equality Illinois as the beneficiary of your Give OUT Day generosity and be entered into a drawing to win one of four flight vouchers, courtesy of Orbitz. Give OUT Day is a national initiative that engages hundreds of organizations and mobilizes thousands of people on a single day across the country to give in
Designate EQIL for Give OUT Day Read More »
The Illinois Senate Education Committee today sent a strong anti-bullying bill to the full Senate, and Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans, is calling for swift final action to send the bill to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk before the May 31 end of the spring
Pass Strong Anti-bullying Bill Read More »
Join Equality Illinois at the Chicago Sky game on June 22 to celebrate Pride. The special Pride Package includes lots of fun extras! When ordering tickets, use the special offer code EQUAL, and a portion of your tickets benefits the work of Equality Illinois and our advocacy on behalf of LGBT Illinoisans. Buy just the
Celebrate Pride with the Sky Read More »
The LGBT Equality Institute on May 17 is fast approaching! This day-long event presented by Equality Illinois in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, Howard Brown Health Center, Lambda Legal, and National Immigrant Justice Center will focus on the myriad of issues that still face the LGBT community
LGBT Equality Institute Program Announced Read More »
This is EQIL May Membership Month: Orbitz has stepped up to donate FOUR flight vouchers for travel within the U.S. lower 48 states or Canada. So, if you join Equality Illinois or renew your membership now, you will get entered into a drawing to win one of the FOUR flight vouchers. If you think the
Win an Orbitz Flight During May Membership Month Read More »
Hundreds of clergy members in Illinois want to officiate at same-sex wedding ceremonies, newly possible under the freedom to marry law, and Equality Illinois helps couples connect with the faith leaders in a new pamphlet. The just-issued listing of wedding officiants answers one of the most frequent questions about the new marriage equality: Who will
Clergy Ready to Perform Same-Sex Marriages Read More »
Please join Equality Illinois for a day of socializing with friends old and new, dining on delicious light bites, and sipping cocktails at the elegant Mayne Stage Theatre, 1328 W. Morse Avenue, Chicago. When: Sunday, May 4 from 3 to 6 pm The suggested event donation is $10, and there will be a cash bar and
EQIL Transgender Community Social Read More »
Equality Illinois – in partnership with Lambda Legal, the the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, the National Immigrant Justice Center and Howard Brown Health Center – is inviting activists and supporters to attend the LGBT Equality Institute this spring to discuss the myriad issues still facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans and the strategies
LGBT Equality Institute Read More »
Last week, the Illinois House Human Services Committee approved HB5569, The Youth Mental Health Protection Act, by a bipartisan 9 to 6 vote. The bill is now moving to the Illinois House of Representatives, and could be voted on in the next two weeks. Equality Illinois is calling on the General Assembly to protect all
Protect LGBT Minors Read More »
An Illinois House Committee today passed the Youth Mental Health Protection Act by a 9 to 6 vote, and Equality Illinois is calling on the Illinois House of Representatives to protect minors from the discredited so-called “conversion therapy” by passing the bill this spring. HB5569, sponsored by state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, would ensure that the most
Committee Passes Conversion Therapy Ban Read More »
Rep. Ron Sandack, who won his Republican primary with the help of EQIL PAC Illinoisans who believe in fairness and equality secured a decisive victory in Tuesday’s primary with a substantial boost by the efforts of Equality Illinois. Not a single lawmaker – Republican or Democrat – who voted for the freedom to marry lost
Illinois Primary Advances Equality Read More »
Equality Illinois is joining the sad chorus of voices mourning the passing overnight of Vernita Gray. A fighter for LGBT equality for over four decades, including eight years on the board of Equality Illinois, Vernita made history again last November when she and her longtime partner Patricia Ewert became the first same-sex couple to wed
In memorial: Vernita Gray Read More »
The important Illinois Primary is TODAY. Supporters of marriage equality need your help. The Equality Illinois Political Action Committee endorsements are HERE. To check on your registration and polling place, click HERE.
The important Illinois Primary is Tuesday. Supporters of marriage equality need your help. The Equality Illinois Political Action Committee endorsements are HERE. To check on your registration and polling place, click HERE.
Champaign County Clerk Gordy Hulten (pictured left) today became the second county clerk in Illinois to issue marriage licenses to all loving, committed couples. Equality Illinois is challenging other clerks throughout the state to do the same. Clerk Hulten said his Central Illinois constituents should enjoy the constitutional right of the freedom to marry that
Central Illinois Welcomes Marriage Equality Read More »
U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman has just ordered Cook County to begin issuing marriage licenses immediately to same-sex couples. At the same time, there are renewed attempts in Illinois to weaken or repeal our hard-won freedom to marry. Tens of thousands of Illinois couples have been waiting for a long time, some for
Attend an Equality Illinois Marriage Forum this month at the Chicago Urban League and Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. The forums are aimed at educating the public about SB10, the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, and dispelling myths and empowering same-sex couples and their families to understand and use all their state and federal
Marriage Equality Forums Read More »
Equality Illinois fought with you to bring marriage equality to our state. Now our affiliated political action committee is working hard to defend the pro-equality majorities in the Illinois House and Senate in the 2014 elections. Our opponents still seek ways to weaken or overturn the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. The Equality Illinois
Defending the pro-marriage majority Read More »
The Equality Illinois 2014 Gala Saturday night was the biggest and most successful ever, thanks to the record crowd of 1,400 celebrants, our dedicated volunteers, all the companies and individuals who were sponsors and donated items for the Silent Auction and bought pages in the program book, and the special guests, including Gov. Pat Quinn,
Tables have already SOLD OUT in our VIP Platinum & Premier sections. Get your tickets online today before they completely sell out.
Equality Illinois Gala This Weekend Read More »