On a strong bipartisan roll call, the Illinois Senate voted 46-4 on Thusday to help increase LGBTQ representation on a myriad of state boards and commissions. The measure now goes to the House. Senate Bill 1670 is an Equality Illinois initiative and sponsored by State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign). It is designed to encourage the …
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit made the right decision Tuesday that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in matters of employment regardless of the worker’s sexual orientation. In Illinois, we know the power of such protections because our Human Rights Act already prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual …
U.S. Court Protects Workers Regardless of Their Sexual Orientation Read More »
The bill to modernize the Illinois birth certificate law passed the Illinois House Human Services Committee Wednesday morning by a 7-4 vote. Thank you to Rep. Greg Harris, and Equality Illinois’ coalition partners the ACLU of Illinois, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Howard Brown Health, and Lambda Legal. And a special thank …
Illinois organizations fighting for the civil rights of LGBTQ Illinoisans respond at a news conference to President Donald Trump’s decision to rescind Department of Education and Department of Justice guidance clarifying the civil rights of transgender students. Groups speaking include Equality Illinois, Lambda Legal – Midwest Regional Office, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance and ACLU of …
Equality Illinois, other LGBTQ champions, respond to Trump transgender student policy Read More »
Equality Illinois condemns the decision of the Trump administration to tear up the 2016 federal guidance protecting the civil rights and equal treatment of transgender youth in our public schools. “We are outraged the Trump Administration would choose to target transgender children for discrimination. Rescinding the guidance letter sends a terrible message and invites personal …
Equality Illinois Condemns Trump Administration’s Anti-Transgender Policy Read More »
On this Inauguration Day, LGBTQ civil rights protections should not be at risk with the change in administrations, but that’s the reality we face. Equality Illinois, working with our supporters in Congress and allied organizations fighting for equality and justice, will resist at every turn. Stay abreast of our work here on our website or …
As President Obama returns home to Chicago to give his farewell address tonight, we in Illinois’ LGBTQ community reflect back to his early political days, when he attended events such as the Equality Illinois 2004 gala and listened and learned about the challenges we face. From this two-way conversation that continued through the President’s two …
Equality Illinois wishes you a happy, healthy, safe and equal 2017. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. suggested, we acknowledge our disappointments as the new year begins, but we never lose our hope, which is fueled by our determination to fight for our rights.
Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson writes in a column in The Chicago Sun-Times that “we will resist at every turn” promised attempts by incoming Trump administration officials and the Republican majorities in Congress to roll back LGBTQ rights. “While the threat of immediate and far reaching policy shifts suggest darker years for the LGBTQ …
Women Demand Respect RallyICYMI – Representing Equality Illinois, our Jessica Peters joined a Women Demand Respect rally across from Chicago’s Trump Tower on Thursday to speak out against the anti-women rhetoric and attitudes of the Trump-Pence ticket. #womenspeak Jessica joined advocates from UNITE HERE Local 1, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Chicago Women Take Action, Grassroots …
The Equality Illinois PAC announces endorsements of 51 candidates, including Susana A. Mendoza for Illinois State Comptroller and state legislative candidates, in the general election on November 8, 2016. “The opponents of LGBT equality and inclusion are determined to stop progress towards full equality,” said Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois. “We must be …
The marriage license for the 10,000th same-sex wedding in Cook County should be issued today or tomorrow. At a celebration hosted by Cook County Clerk David Orr, Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson, who with his husband Toby were the 9,191st same-sex couple to be wed here, said that they were part of the last …
Equality Illinois condemns the lawsuit filed by a small handful of pastors against Illinois’ law protecting LGBT youth from harmful conversion therapy. The Youth Mental Health Protection Act is based on scientific consensus. The law protects patients from harmful, coercive, and fraudulent treatments that attempt to change the unchangeable. Faith leaders remain free to say …
Equality Illinois Condemns Attempt to Undermine Ban on Conversion Therapy Read More »
The Chicago City Council stood up for the rights of transgender people Wednesday when it passed the Equal Access Ordinance, a measure supported by Equality Illinois that will ensure equal access consistent with a person’s gender identity in places of public accommodations in Chicago. The ordinance passed the 50-person council on a vote of 45-5, …
Chicago City Council Stands Up for Transgender People Read More »
In the wake of last week’s shooting in Orlando that left 49 dead and another 53 injured in a gay nightclub, leaders from the LGBT and Muslim communities in Illinois called Monday for a joint commitment to civil rights. Equality Illinois, Lambda Legal – Midwest Regional Office and the Council on American Islamic Relations-Chicago participated …
Orlando tragedy brings Illinois’ Muslim, LGBT communities together Read More »
City of Chicago officials, aldermen and event organizers are pledging enhanced safety and security measures ahead of the June 18-19 Pride Fest and the 47th Annual Pride Parade on Sunday, June 26. “Since the tragedy in Orlando, OEMC and the Chicago Police Department have met several times and we have adjusted resources and increased security …
Equality Illinois applauds passage today of legislation ensuring pension fairness for LGBT individuals who retired from public employment prior to the civil unions law and marriage equality law. We now call upon Gov. Bruce Rauner to expeditiously sign the bill as soon as it reaches his desk. Equality Illinois advocated for the bill, which allows …
Equality Illinois’ work on behalf of LGBT Illinoisans and their families enters its second quarter century under a new leader who has a history of social justice advocacy, building diverse coalitions and improving educational outcomes for youth. Named today as the Chief Executive Officer of Equality Illinois is Brian C. Johnson, who currently serves as …
It’s happened in other states, and now it’s happening in Illinois. A shameful bill, which would force transgender students to use separate school facilities from their peers, has advanced to the Illinois House Human Services Committee. We need to stop it in its tracks! Sign the petition at the link below. We’ll deliver the petition …
Equality Illinois today calls on Senator Mark Kirk and Senator Dick Durbin to promptly act on President Obama’s nomination to replace the Justice Scalia. Sen. Kirk will be under tremendous pressure from his Republican colleagues to automatically reject the President’s nominee. Yet, Sen. Kirk has demonstrated a thoughtful willingness to work in a bipartisan manner …
Kirk, Durbin Should Promptly Act on Court Replacement Read More »
Three new LGBT equality laws that were Equality Illinois’ legislative priorities in 2015 are in effect as of January 1, 2016: A ban on dangerous and ineffective conversion therapy to protect LGBT youth, Enhanced hates crimes protections that specifically include gender identity as a protected category and extends hate crime protections to LGBT community centers, …
We at Equality Illinois are outraged and saddened by the killing of Laquan McDonald. We offer our condolences and support to his family and friends. As the advocacy voice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans, we stand in solidarity with those in Chicago and Illinois who fight for racial, economic, and social justice. We …
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s visionary advocacy for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans as a Member of Congress, Democratic Leader and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives will be recognized with the 2016 Equality Illinois Freedom Award. Leader Pelosi will accept the recognition at the Equality Illinois 25th Anniversary Gala …
Equality Illinois Freedom Award to Honor Nancy Pelosi Read More »
Equality Illinois is excited to announce an expanded statewide strategy that includes opening of a central Illinois office and a network of strategic local partnerships in order to better serve the needs and priorities of LGBT Illinoisans. Equality Illinois’ first strategic community partner is the Phoenix Center, Springfield’s LGBT community center. The Equality Illinois central …
Today, Governor Bruce Rauner signed legislation adding gender identity and LGBT community centers to existing Illinois hate crimes protections This bill was a major initiative of Equality Illinois during the spring legislative session. Thank you, Gov. Rauner, and the legislative sponsors Representative Sam Yingling, State Representative Kelly Cassidy, and Senator Daniel Biss, for helping to protect LGBT Illinoisans. READ MORE