Breaking News in Illinois

Illinois Inclusive Curriculum Advisory Council (IICAC)

Breaking News in Illinois, Education, Issues / By

October is LGBTQ History Month, and a coalition of LGBTQ organizations are celebrating by making tools available to school administrators, educators, youth, and families to help implement the state’s new Inclusive Curriculum Law. Today, the Illinois Inclusive Curriculum Advisory Council (IICAC) unveiled the new tools, which include professional development opportunities, a guidance document, and a …

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THE INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM BILL

Breaking News in Illinois, Stay Informed / By

Starting with the 2020-21 school year, students in Illinois public schools will learn about LGBTQ contributions in history. The Inclusive Curriculum Bill is the initiative of Equality Illinois, the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, and The Legacy Project! Thank you to our fierce legislative champions, State Representative Anna Moeller, 43rd District and State Senator Heather Steans! …

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Leading Civil Rights Organizations Urge Governor Rauner to Sign Bill that Would Help Protect Illinoisans from Discrimination

Breaking News in Illinois, News / By

Seventeen leading civil rights organizations in Illinois are urging Gov. Bruce Rauner, in a letter sent to him on Tuesday, to sign legislation that would ban employment discrimination in all workplaces. The measure, House Bill 4572, which passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support in May and is currently on the governor’s desk, would make …

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Organizations Denounce Anti-Equality U.S. Supreme Court Candidates

Breaking News in Illinois / By

On July 5, Equality Illinois, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, ACLU of Illinois, and Courts Matter Illinois called on U.S. senators to reject any of Trump’s dangerous anti-abortion candidates to the Supreme Court who would overturn Roe v. Wade, the historic case that legalized abortion in the United States, and roll back civil rights protections including LGBTQ, …

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Illinois LGBTQ Civil Rights Protections Remain Strong

Anti-Discrimination, Breaking News in Illinois / By

The Illinois Human Rights Act protects many people—including LGBTQ people—from discrimination in places of public accommodations. The decision issued in Masterpiece Cakeshop today by the U.S. Supreme Court does not limit the protections in our Human Rights Act. However, the Court missed an opportunity to vociferously defend the rights of LGBTQ Americans to be free …

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Rally Today in Support of Illinois Human Rights Law

Anti-Discrimination, Breaking News in Illinois, Take Action / By

Monday at 5:30pm in Chicago’s Federal Plaza, Dearborn and Adams streets, join a community rally in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling allowing a Colorado baker to refuse to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. We will call on Illinois businesses and the state to understand there is no change to the Illinois …

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It’s time, Illinois: Ratify the Equal Rights Amemdment

Anti-Discrimination, Breaking News in Illinois / By

As citizen advocates plan to engage legislators on Tuesday for ERA Lobby Day, Equality Illinois proudly supports the federal Equal Rights Amendment and urges state legislators to promptly ratify it. It’s beyond time for Illinois to join the 36 other states that have ratified the amendment and for it to become part of the U.S. …

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Inclusive Curriculum Bill Introduced to Teach LGBTQ History

Breaking News in Illinois, Education Initiative, Pending Legislation / By

The Illinois Inclusive Curriculum Bill is introduced in the state legislature, an initiative of Equality Illinois and the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance and sponsored by state Sen. Heather Steans of Chicago and state Rep. Anna Moeller, of Elgin, so students will learn about the significant historical events and contributions by LGBTQ people. Some examples: The …

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Three New Laws Advance LGBTQ Equality in 2018

Accomplishments, Breaking News in Illinois, Issues / By

Three pro-LGBTQ equality laws that were legislative priorities for Equality Illinois go into effect with the new year. As of Jan. 1, 2018, laws that ban the anti-LGBTQ panic defense, modernize birth certificate changes, and encourage LGBTQ public leadership opportunities will help build a better Illinois. “Across the country, we have seen attacks on the …

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EI Advisory Board Member Appointed to State Panel

Breaking News in Illinois / By

Dr. Kathleen Robbins, a member of the Equality Illinois Community Advisory Board, has been appointed to the Illinois Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention. The appointment, made by Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady, is recognition of the prevalence and impact of sexual violence on transgender people. Kathleen is an …

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Reject the Trump Administration License to Discriminate

Breaking News in Illinois, Take Action / By

TAKE ACTION!!! Equality Illinois stands in firm opposition to the guidance document issued today by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that would allow discrimination against LGBTQ people. Take action here to oppose the Trump administration anti-LGBTQ policy: tinyurl.com/RejectLicenseToDiscriminate. Using all the tools at our disposal, we will forcefully respond and defend the civil rights of …

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Breaking News: Gov. Rauner Signs Bill Protecting Reproductive Rights

Breaking News in Illinois / By

BREAKING NEWS: Governor Bruce Rauner protects reproductive rights of Illinois women and signs House Bill 40. Thank you, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, ACLU of Illinois, Personal PAC, and countless advocates across Illinois for your leadership in ensuring access to reproductive healthcare for all women in Illinois, especially the bill’s sponsors state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz and …

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Gov. Rauner Meets with LGBTQ and Allied Leaders

Breaking News in Illinois, Equality Illinois / By

LGBTQ and allied groups met with Gov. Bruce Rauner Tuesday morning to discuss challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Illinoisans that might find remedy in actions by the state. The issues discussed during the meeting at Equality Illinois included healthcare and human services, youth and schools, housing, immigration, LGBTQ cultural competency of …

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LGBTQ Forum: The Democratic Candidates for Governor

Breaking News in Illinois, Community Event / By

REGISTER TO ATTEND   Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Illinoisans will have an opportunity to hear directly from the Democratic candidates for governor about the issues that impact our lives at a candidate forum in Chicago on Wednesday, December 6, a coalition of organizations that serve and advocate for LGBTQ Illinoisans announced Thursday. You …

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Equality Illinois Stands with the Dreamers

Breaking News in Illinois, Immigration / By

Equality Illinois stands with the Dreamers. Immigrants are part of the fabric of America. Here we believe in tolerance, inclusion, liberty, and fairness. President Trump’s policy today is an absolute betrayal of American values. Click HERE to urge your member of Congress to support the Dream Act and reject Trump’s anti-DACA policy. The president’s policy …

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Birth Certificate Bill Signed

Breaking News in Illinois / By

Legislative sponsors, Equality Illinois, and ACLU of Illinois are celebrating the signing by Governor Bruce Rauner of House Bill 1785, modernizing the Illinois Vital Records Act and allowing transgender and intersex individuals to change the gender marker on their birth certificates without undergoing gender reassignment surgery. Thank you to Gov. Rauner and the sponsors state …

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Bill to help transgender Illinoisans get correct birth certificates goes to governor

Breaking News in Illinois / By

A measure to modernize Illinois law allowing people to change the gender marker on their birth certificate, helping transgender Illinoisans live their true lives, House Bill 1785, passed the Senate Wednesday night 32-22. Having previously passed in the House, the bill now goes to Gov. Rauner for his signature, and we ask him to act …

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House passes birth certificate bill; urge your senator to act

Breaking News in Illinois, Transgender / By

The Illinois House voted Thursday afternoon to modernize the state’s birth certificate law to help transgender Illinoisans, sending the bill to the Illinois Senate. >>>Call to Action: With less than a week until the legislature’s scheduled adjournment, your state senator needs to hear from you TODAY. Click here to send your senator a message of …

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