Today is Day One of the State’s Fiscal Year 2016, and there is no budget in place to fund the vital services for the most vulnerable Illinoisans, including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) for those who are unable to afford HIV/AIDS drugs, support services for homeless youth, and individuals with mental illnesses. We call …
More than 10,400 same-sex couples have married in Illinois since marriage equality arrived in the state, according to a new Equality Illinois analysis of state records. For these families, the widely anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision on marriage equality is as important as in states where there is no freedom to marry. They may enjoy …
10,400 Couples Wed in Illinois Await Court Decision Read More »
A bipartisan Illinois Senate majority on Friday approved a measure to protect LGBT youth from dangerous, ineffective and discredited attempts to change their sexual orientation and gender identity, capping a successful effort by Equality Illinois and allies to pass meaningful new LGBT protections during the spring legislative session. Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest advocacy organization …
Breaking News: The Illinois Senate today unanimously approved HB 3552, 49-0. Under this bill, a person’s last instructions regarding his or her gender identity must be respected by funeral directors (including pronouns, chosen name, and appearance). Thank you to Sen. William Delgado and Rep. Will Guzzardi for standing up for the rights of transgender Illinoisans. …
Gender Identity Funeral Instructions Bill Passes Read More »
The Illinois Senate unanimously passed House Bill 3930 on Wednesday, which enhances hate crimes protections for LGBT Illinoisans. Thank you to Sen. Daniel Biss, the measure’s chief sponsor! Next step: review and approval by the Governor. Please call Governor Rauner at (217) 782-0244 and urge him to sign HB 3930. Authored by Equality Illinois, HB …
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A letter from mental health, medical and academic organizations in Illinois strongly supporting the Illinois Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act is a significant statement that explains the dangers of harmful and ineffective efforts to force LGBT youth to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Equality Illinois, the state’s largest advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and …
Equality Illinois on Tuesday announced an initiative to pass legislation banning ineffectual and dangerous conversion therapy during this new term of the Illinois General Assembly in order to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children State Rep. Kelly Cassidy of Chicago introduced the bill on Friday. House Bill 217, the Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act, would …
Marriage equality could become a national reality later this year after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ordered a hearing on the issue. The court announced it is taking cases from four states where the wishes of same-sex couples to marry are thwarted by state laws. In its order, the court asked two questions: 1) …
As Bruce Rauner prepares to take the helm of the state on Monday, Equality Illinois extends its hand in cooperation but promises to remain an ever-vigilant voice and force representing the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. Sadly, one of his first major appointments, the nomination of James Meeks, a virulently outspoken anti-LGBT former member …
EQIL Offers Cooperation to Rauner; Slams Meeks Pick Read More »
Equality Illinois today is mourning the death of Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, said, “The people of Illinois today lost a true original. Comptroller Topinka brightened every room she entered with her engaging laugh, and LGBT Illinoisans were included in her warm embrace. “As a Republican statewide officeholder, Comptroller …
Equality Illinois mourns the passing of former Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne. Mayor Byrne was a pioneer. The first and only woman elected mayor in Chicago, she recognized the LGBT diversity of the city. Mayor Byrne proclaimed the first Gay Pride Parade Day in the city in 1981 and was the first major political figure to …
The U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing marriage equality to move forward demonstrates that Bruce Rauner, the Republican candidate for governor, remains on the wrong side of history, the Equality Illinois Political Action Committee (Equality Illinois PAC) said Monday. “Bruce Rauner says he would have vetoed the state marriage law if he was governor when it …