Equality Illinois is leading or co-leading the following initiatives:
SB 3495 and HB 5095
HB 5095 (State Rep. Canty)
SB 3495 (Sen. Ellman)
Initiative Description:
Codify Secretary of State's internal policy for self- attestation for gender marker changes on driver’s licenses; requires that forms that people fill out to correct gender markers must be destroyed by SOS immediately once the updated driver’s license is issued; and clean up language from the 2019 law that set up the option of the X marker on driver’s licenses.
Key Partners:
Legal Council for Health Justice and Transformative Justice Law Project
SB 3525 and HB 5492
HB 5492 (State Rep. Stuart)
SB 3525 (Sen. Collins)
Initiative Description:
Allow patients who are prescribed prescription hormone therapy to request a 12-month supply of the medication. The initiative would require pharmacists to fulfill the request and insurance companies to provide coverage. This initiative is based on a recent law in Washington State and legislation that passed in California.
Key Partners:
Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, AIDS Foundation Chicago, and Pride Action Tank
HB 4834 and SB 3323
HB 4834 (State Rep. Cassidy)
SB 3323 (Sen. Johnson)
Initiative Description:
To protect providers and patients, exempt testosterone from being reported through the state's Prescription Monitoring Program, which anti-equality law enforcement in other states may access. For instance, the Texas Attorney General likely used that state's prescription drug monitoring program to identify and then investigate providers who prescribed testosterone. This initiative is based on a law in Colorado and similar legislation in other states, such as Maine.
Key Partners:
Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, AIDS Foundation Chicago, and Pride Action Tank
HB 4554 and SB 3105
HB 4554 (State Rep. Faver Dias)
SB 3105 (Sen. Edly-Allen)
Initiative Description:
Ban on funding for conversion therapy practices
Key Partners:
The Trevor Project
Bill of rights for LGBTQ+ older adults
(led by AFC and PAT)
HB 4359 (State Rep. Grasse)
SB 2805 (Sen. Villanueva)
Initiative Description:
the Illinois LGBTQ+ and HIV Long-Term Care Bill of Rights, is critical legislation enshrining protections of LGBTQ+ older adults and Illinoisans aging with HIV in long-term & home-based care.
Supported by AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC), Equality Illinois, Pride Action Tank, SAGE, and a statewide coalition of community organizations, HB4359 contains provisions that prohibit long-term care, home-based care, senior living, and assisted living facilities from making discriminatory decisions based on a resident’s actual or perceived LGBTQ or HIV status and provide protections that allow a resident to openly express their identity. Hb4359 also mandates LGBTQ and HIV cultural competency training for all long-term care, home-based care, senior living, and assisted living facility staff. The new legislation builds on existing protections contained in Illinois’ Nursing Home Care Act (210 ILCS 45/), Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act (210 ILCS 9/), and the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act (210 ILCS 55/).
Key Partners:
AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC), Pride Action Tank, and SAGE,
2026 LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day
Join us for Equality Illinois' LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day on May 21, 2025 in Springfield, Illinois at the State Capitol. At a time when our LGBTQ+ rights are being rolled back all across the country, it is crucial that we double down, and continue the fight for our rights here in Illinois, and let our legislators know that LGBTQ+ voices matter!