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 …
Apply for our 2021- 2022 Community Advisory Group! The Equality Illinois Community Advisory 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 of LGBTQ Illinoisans. If you’re interested in serving on the group, go to the application …
Apply for our 2021- 2022 Community Advisory Group! Read More »
Today is your last day to vote in local elections for important offices like school boards, city councils, and townships! You can vote until 7 p.m. If you are in line to vote at 7 p.m., stay in line. Find your voting location: https://ova.elections.il.gov/PollingPlaceLookup.aspx.
With the Illinois legislative session in full swing, we want to invite you to SHOW UP! and SPEAK UP! for LGBTQ equality and inclusion during the 2021 Virtual LGBTQ Advocacy Day on May 12, 2021. While LGBTQ Advocacy Day will look different this year, we must still SHOW UP! and SPEAK UP! to make sure …
We know telling and sharing stories of impact matter. You have moved hearts and changed minds by sharing your stories and experiences with policymakers and the public. Now, as part of the coalition advocating for state legislation to ensure paid sick days in Illinois, we want to hear from you: how has the absence of …
Starting TODAY, early voting expands across Illinois ahead of the March 17 primary! Find your early voting location HERE! Head to the Illinois State Board of Elections to check your registration status and make sure it is up to date. If you are not registered to vote, you can register to vote in person at …
BREAKING: The Inclusive Curriculum Bill (HB 246) just passed the Illinois House Education School Curriculum Committee! The vote was 13-7. Thank you to sponsor State Rep. Anna Moeller! The bill, which is an initiative of Equality Illinois, The Legacy Project, and Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, will include the contributions of LGBTQ people in the history …
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. · …
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 »
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 »
Take action: Tell your U.S. representative to support LGBTQ Illinoisans. Click the link to send a message. U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood and Randy Hultgren of Illinois are urging President Trump to sign an executive order that would allow discrimination against LGBTQ people. The proposed executive order is contrary to our laws and values in Illinois. …
LGBTQ representation and visibility are more important than ever. Click the <<<image to ask your state senator to support SB 1670 – the LGBTQ Public Service Bill. Sponsored by State Sen. Scott Bennett of Champaign, SB 1670 allows individuals applying for seats on state boards and commissions to self-identify as LGBTQ; applicants already self-identify their …
Two important pro-LGBTQ bills are under consideration in Springfield. Legislators need to hear from you on BOTH bills, and we’ve made it easy for you to send them a message. <<Click the image to urge your legislators to modernize the Illinois birth certificate law so transgender Illinoisans can live with dignity and to support the …
Ask Your Legislators to Pass Bills That Help LGBTQ Illinoisans Read More »
LGBTQ Americans find themselves in a position we haven’t been in for nearly a decade: fighting against an administration that wants to turn back the clock on LGBTQ rights. This sadly signals to others that it is permissible to try to stop the progress we’ve all fought so hard to achieve locally and nationally. To …
‘Spring to Action’ Agenda Focuses on Local Events Read More »