With the civil rights of LGBTQ Americans under attack by the Trump Administration and the urgent need to continue our pro-equality progress in the City of Chicago, LGBTQ Chicagoans need to know where the candidates for mayor stand on the many issues of interest and importance to our lives. LGBTQ community organizations Affinity Community Services, …
As Equality Illinois comes to the end of another successful year of serving LGBTQ Illinoisans, we want to THANK YOU for your contributions and volunteer service! Today, we are calling on your support to participate in our annual “Year-End Giving Campaign” as we continue to pave a future free of bias, bigotry, and discrimination. Your contribution will continue …
December 20, 2018 Daniel Mair Superintendent Steve Nauman President of the Board of Education Kate Williams Principal Germantown Hills School District #69 103 Warriors Way, Germantown Hills, IL 61548 Dear Superintendent Mair, President Nauman, and Principal Williams: On behalf of Equality Illinois, the statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, I write to express …
With the civil rights of LGBTQ Americans under attack by the Trump Administration and the urgent need to continue our pro-equality progress in the City of Chicago, LGBTQ Chicagoans need to know where the candidates for mayor stand on the many issues of interest and importance to our lives. LGBTQ community organizations Affinity Community Services, …
There is so much at stake for LGBTQ Illinoisans on Nov. 6 at the general election. That’s why Equality Illinois and our partners are teaming up to demonstrate the electoral power of LGBTQ equality voters. Through the Commit to Vote initiative, we aim to engage LGBTQ equality voters to vote on Nov. 6. Commit to …
As part of our commitment to an ongoing dialogue with stakeholders across Illinois, Equality Illinois launched the Community Advisory Group in 2016. The group is a diverse cross-section of voices from across Illinois that informs the policy positions and initiatives we adopt and pursue in our work to secure and defend the equal and inclusive rights …
The City Club of Chicago hosted a historic event on June 19, 2018, its first discussion of LGBTQ issues at this well-known and respected public forum, whose co-founder was Jane Addams. Led by Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson, the panel featured Tracy Baim of Windy City Times, Kim L. Hunt of Pride Action Tank, …
Chicago City Club Hosts First LGBTQ Presentation Read More »
On the second anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Equality Illinois joins with our friends at Equality Florida to issue a call to #HonorThemWithAction. Connect with organizations that take action to dismantle anti-LGBTQ violence, hatred, and discrimination. Help make your community and your state safer, better, and more equal. There were 49 murdered …
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 …
Rally Today in Support of Illinois Human Rights Law Read More »
Welcome to the Equality Illinois Pride Month campaign to SHOW UP. SPEAK UP! During June, we encourage you to show the colors by showing up and speaking up in many ways: • SHOW UP at a community pride event scheduled in towns throughout Illinois as well as in many schools, businesses, and faith institutions to …
CALL TO ACTION: The LGBTQ Inclusive Curriculum Bill is now in the House floor as the final push for action on major legislation is underway in the General Assembly before the scheduled May 31 adjournment. There is vocal opposition to the bill. We need you to raise your voice in support of the bill and …
In last week of session: Pass the LGBTQ Inclusive History Bill Read More »
Take Action Today: The Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing all people equal treatment under the law regardless of their sex, is now in the Illinois House, with a vote on ratification hopefully taken before the May 31 adjournment. Act now to tell your state representative to vote YES. In a committee hearing …
Our opponents are resorting to vicious name calling when they talk to Illinois legislators about the #LGBTQ Curriculum Bill. We believe our history should be part of school curriculum so that all students will have a more thorough understanding of history. Click to email your legislators and tell them: Pass the Inclusive Curriculum Bill.
Your vote on Tuesday could make the difference in electing LGBTQ-supportive public officials. To learn your polling place, click HERE. To learn more about candidates endorsed for their commitments to LGBTQ equality, please click HERE. With strong headwinds on the national level against LGBTQ civil rights, it is important to vote to make sure Illinois …
Vote Tuesday to Support LGBTQ-Supportive Officials Read More »
On St. Patrick’s Day, take a few minutes to vote early for the Illinois Primary. There are polling places open this weekend throughout Illinois. Find locations and hours HERE. We have seen important elections swing on a handful of votes, so your vote could make the difference in electing LGBTQ-friendly officials. With strong headwinds on …
Early Voting for the March 20 Illinois primary continues, including at many locations this weekend. Click to find convenient locations and hours in all 102 Illinois counties plus municipal election authorities. Remember, some cities such as Chicago have their own election authorities. EARLY VOTING INFO
“Outrageous and offensive” and an “…effort to politicize curriculum in order to advance biased beliefs…” That’s how a right-wing anti-equality organization recently described the Inclusive Curriculum Bill introduced in Springfield this month. The bill ensures the inclusion of the roles and contributions of LGBTQ people in curriculum in Illinois. Tell your elected leaders that our …
It’s time for the Equality Illinois Show Up. Speak Up! 2018 Agenda. Your Equality Illinois team is on the case in Springfield and working to ensure that LGBTQ issues are included in this election across the state. We are asking you to join us in this work and make sure your voices are heard. · …
At Equality Illinois, our hearts swell with love at the bravery we are seeing from so many people sharing #metoo. We are sorry we live in a world where the #metoo campaign even has to exist, and we promise to be vigilant in working with you to eradicate sexual harassment and assault.
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 …
Reject the Trump Administration License to Discriminate Read More »
TAKE ACTION–Now that House Bill 40 protecting women’s reproductive rights is on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk, Equality Illinois urges him to sign it. And we ask YOU to send your own message of support for HB40 to the governor at http://tinyurl.com/SIGNHB40. All Illinoisans should be able to make the most fundamental decisions about their body …
Tell Gov. Rauner: Sign HB40 to protect women’s reproductive health Read More »
On the same day last week that President Trump rolled back rights for transgender Americans, two new civil rights advances for LGBTQ Illinoisans became law. One week earlier, a third new LGBTQ-affirming policy became law in Illinois. These bills were all part of the Equality Illinois 2017 Legislative Agenda. We need your help to continue …
Illinois Scores Unprecedented LGBTQ Legislative Victories Read More »
Tell Gov. Rauner to sign the LGBTQ panic defense ban. Just click the link below to send him a message and add your name to the thousands of Illinoisans who support the bill. Today is the 48th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. LGBTQ people, especially transgender people like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, fought …
It’s time to let Gov. Bruce Rauner know that we want him to sign HB1785, the bill that will allow transgender Illinoisans to have a birth certificate that matches their gender identity. The right-wing opponents are already hard at work spreading lies about the bill, and we need YOU in every corner of Illinois to …
Tell Gov. Rauner: Sign the bill to help transgender Illinoisans Read More »
Equality Illinois is hopeful that the General Assembly will act in its final days of the spring session to pass bills advancing LGBTQ civil rights, as well as passage, finally, of a responsible budget with adequate revenues to fund essential programs for all Illinoisans. EI Director of Public Policy Michael Ziri and our advocacy team …
Equality Illinois Urges Action on LGBTQ Civil Rights Agenda Read More »