Norma Seledon Norma Seledon is a Mexican immigrant and has been a resident of Chicago for over 50 years. She has over 40 years of professional commitment to community and grassroots development around issues of gender equity, youth and queer leadership, education attainment by underrepresented groups, domestic violence, sexual assault, substance abuse, cultural competence, racial …
Trans-Affirming Birth Certificate Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2023 Equality Illinois Heralds July 1st Effective Date of Trans-Affirming Birth Certificate Law CHICAGO – Effective July 1, trans and gender-expansive individuals born in Illinois will be able to self-identify for gender marker corrections on their birth certificates because of a law approved by Governor JB Pritzker earlier this year, according …
4/5/23 Press release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 5th, 2023 Equality Illinois Celebrates Historic Victories for Trans Representation in Southern Illinois and Will County Clare Killman and Jackie McKethen are only the fourth and fifth Trans people elected to office in Illinois A statement from Myles Brady Davis, Communications Director of Equality Illinois, the state’s civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, …
2023 Mayoral endorsement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17th, 2023 Equality Illinois endorses Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot; urges bold equity agenda for second term The state’s LGBTQ+ civil rights organization endorses Mayor Lori Lightfoot for re-election as Chicago’s Mayor. In a field full of candidates committed to LGBTQ+ equality, Mayor Lori Lightfoot represents the strongest champion for LGBTQ+ identity. In …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 25, 2022 COALITION JOINS FORCES OUTSIDE ANTI-FAMILY, ANTI-EQUALITY EXTREMIST HATE GROUP SCHOOL BOARD TRAINING TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD ON A PLATFORM OF INCLUSION AND NOT HATE DES PLAINES – Saturday morning parents from an array of suburban school districts along with representatives of state and local …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 1, 2022 EQUALITY ILLINOIS ENDORSES 15 LGBTQ + CANDIDATES FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION CHICAGO – Equality Illinois, the state’s civil rights organization for LGBTQ+ Illinoisans, Thursday announced endorsements of a record number of LGBTQ+ candidates running for the office in a general election in Illinois. “We are excited to endorse fifteen …
City Club of Chicago Event
Come hear our CEO Brian C. Johnson talk about the future of LGBTQ+ civil rights! In an era of “Don’t Say Gay” and anti-trans legislation sweeping the country, come hear how Illinois can be at the vanguard of the march toward full equality for LGBTQ+ people. Space is limited and RSVPs and are piling in …
Equality Illinois 2022 Pride Kickoff Brunch
Equality Illinois is hosting a Pride Kickoff Brunch June 4th and we hope you will join us in supporting them! This year our honoree will be Illinois House Majority Leader Greg Harris, the first LGBTQ+ person to serve as a legislative leader in the Illinois General Assembly. We hope to see you there!
Network for Equality
We are excited that Network for Equality – our premier LGBTQ+ networking event – is BACK Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Can I count on you to buy a ticket to this impactful LGBTQ networking event?
Legislative Update
BIG NEWS! On National Honor Our LGBTQ+ Elders Day(5/16/22), Governor JB Pritzker signed SB 3490 into law to disrupt disparities for LGBTQ+ older adults and older adults living with HIV. The new law creates the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ+ Aging; establishes an LGBTQ+ Older Adult Advocate within state government; and requires state-funded aging services providers to …
Illinois Standing for Queer and Trans Communities
Join us Monday, March 28th at 5:30pm in Federal Plaza. Equality Illinois and other community partners stand for queer and trans communities in the face of anti-trans and anti-LTBTQ actions in states like TX, IN and FL and violence here in Chicago.
EI’s FY21 Annual Report
At a time when LGBTQ civil rights are under attack nationally, we are proud to have worked with the LGBTQ community and allies to help place Illinois at the cutting edge of LGBTQ full equality.
EI’s LGBTQ Civil Rights Survey!
Equality Illinois is proud to announce the launch of our LGBTQ civil rights survey! Building off the input of 100+ stakeholders around the state, we have designed this short survey to gather your input on where you think Equality Illinois’ civil rights work should head in the next 5 years. TODAY, please take 10 minutes …
EI 2022 Gala COVID Safety Protocol
The 2022 Gala is coming up! We have strengthened our protocols to keep you safe. According to City mandate, the Hilton must also independently verify proof of ID alongside the proof of vaccination. In order to streamline that process and fulfill those requirements, we are no longer planning on using the Clear App, but instead partnering …
EI 2022 GALA RAFFLE
Equality Illinois is excited to offer you a chance to win TWO Round-Trip, Business/First ZN Class tickets to any destination that United Airlines serves between US48/Alaska/Canada/Caribbean/Mexico/Central America on United and United Express. Prize is valued at $6,050! You can purchase raffle tickets online until Friday, February 4, 2022, 9AM CT. For every one raffle ticket you purchase, your name …
#EqualityIllinoisHoliday
During this season of generosity and gift-giving, so many LGBTQ Illinoisans still don’t earn a living wage. Can you #GiveForEquality today to support Equality Illinois’ efforts to secure a better future for the LGBTQ community in Illinois? During this holiday season, we are asking 200 LGBTQ and allied supporters to make a small gift …
#GiveForEquality
It doesn’t take much to make a big difference for LGBTQ kids. #GiveForEquality today! Donate today: https://bit.ly/GiveForEquality #EqualityIllinoisHoliday
LGBTBIQ+ community in USA and Mexico
Durante un viaje reciente a México, nuestra Directora Adjunta, Mony Ruiz-Velasco tuvo una conversación con elle Dr. Jesus Ociel Baena Saucedo en el podcast de Legaton. En el episodio conversan sobre los derechos de las comunidades LGBTQI+ en EUA y México. (During a recent trip to Mexico our Deputy Director Mony Ruiz-Velasco sat in …
#BooksNotBans
a Equality Illinois joined with our partners Prairie Pride Coalition and the UP Center of Champaign County and over 400 other organizations, publishers, bookstores, and individuals to condemn the coordinated political attack on books (including LGBTQ-affirming texts) in schools across the country. We are seeing these attacks in Illinois schools and libraries. Every kid deserves …
#GivingTuesday #GiveForEquality
Happy Holidays! In this season of celebration and togetherness with family, many of our LGBTQ community remain under attack from anti-LGBTQ equality forces. In fact, just across the border in Ohio, bills are being presented to threaten the rights of trans youth to receive gender affirming healthcare and put at risk for discriminatory treatment in …
TDOR 2021
A Join us for an incredible showcase of talented Trans performers this Trans Day of Remembrance, Resilience and Resistance!
EI 2022 Gala Program Book
We’re excited to return LIVE! to the Hilton for the 2022 Equality Illinois Gala on February 5. Promote your cause or business in this year’s Gala program book ad!
Help shape the LGBTQ civil rights agenda
Equality Illinois is starting the development of our next five-year Strategic Plan, which will go into effect July 2022. As part of this process, we are hosting virtual town halls and want to hear from YOU! Equality Illinois values the input of our community partners, stakeholders, and donors in shaping the next 5 years of our vital LGBTQ civil …