Issues – Page 2 – Equality Illinois

Celebrating Protections Against Workplace Bias on Labor Day

As we celebrate Labor Day, we are grateful that LGBTQ Illinoisans are protected against discrimination in the workplace. Equality Illinois spearheaded the successful effort to outlaw discrimination against LGBTQ Illinoisans with the passage of an amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act in 2005. However, there is no federal law barring employment discrimination on the …

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Reacting to Charlottesville

Anti-Discrimination / By Mitchell Locin

Everyone should unite in expressing disgust at the racist, anti-Semitic, xenophobic, misogynistic and homophobic messages spewed at the white nationalist gatherings in Charlottesville this weekend. Contrary to the “many sides” of responsibility for the hate, bigotry and violence suggested by Donald Trump, there are only two sides: Those on the wrong side of history by …

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Fighting transgender military ban at the Illinois State Fair

Community Event, Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

Equality Illinois is at the Illinois State Fair for the 6th year in a row, this year seeking support for our brave and patriotic troops, including transgender members of the military. Fairgoers who stop by the Equality Illinois booth during the State Fair, which runs now through Aug. 20 in Springfield, will be able to …

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Trump Transgender Military Ban Condemned

Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

By rejecting the brave military service of transgender Americans, President Trump’s policy by tweets is an outrageous about face of the trend of creating a military where courageous Americans of all identities and backgrounds are encouraged to serve. Our military is strongest when it reflects the full diversity of our American community and when all …

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House passes birth certificate bill; urge your senator to act

Breaking News in Illinois, Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

The Illinois House voted Thursday afternoon to modernize the state’s birth certificate law to help transgender Illinoisans, sending the bill to the Illinois Senate. >>>Call to Action: With less than a week until the legislature’s scheduled adjournment, your state senator needs to hear from you TODAY. Click here to send your senator a message of …

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U.S. Court Protects Workers Regardless of Their Sexual Orientation

Breaking News in Illinois, Employment / By Mitchell Locin

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 …

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Tell Congress: Preserve ObamaCare

Health / By Mitchell Locin

Equality Illinois’ Anthony Charles Galloway joined many other organizations at 2:40 PM Wednesday to tell Congress not to repeal the Affordable Care Act, because the Republican alternative would deny health coverage to 24 million Americans. Call 866-246-9371 to tell your member of Congress to vote NO on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Watch …

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House Committee Passes Birth Certificate Bill

Breaking News in Illinois, Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

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 …

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Equality Illinois, other LGBTQ champions, respond to Trump transgender student policy

Breaking News in Illinois, Safe Schools, Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

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 …

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Equality Illinois Condemns Trump Administration’s Anti-Transgender Policy

Breaking News in Illinois, Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

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 …

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Equality Illinois Urges Congress to Protect Transgender Students

Anti-Discrimination, Safe Schools, Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

With the Trump administration reportedly poised to act against transgender students, Equality Illinois is calling on Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth and Illinois House members to stand against discrimination in our schools. In a letter sent to the state’s congressional delegation, Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson says that the proposed rescinding of …

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Legislative Agenda Advances LGBTQ Civil Rights

Issues / By Mitchell Locin

Equality Illinois announces its 2017 legislative agenda, a package of bills to advance the civil rights protections of LGBTQ Illinoisans in the criminal justice system, improve representation on public boards and commissions and assist transgender Illinoisans. Our robust agenda includes banning so-called “gay panic defense” and ”trans panic defense” in murder cases, ensuring non-discrimination in …

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New Birth Certificate Law Would Aid Transgender Illinoisans

Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

State Rep. Greg Harris has introduced legislation to modernize the state’s birth certificate law to allow transgender Illinoisans to correct the gender marker on their birth certificate without surgery. Consistent with modern medical standards, the bill recognizes that people who are transgender and intersex should make their own decisions about the most appropriate course of …

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Questions Remain As Trump Retains LGBTQ Workers’ Rights

Anti-Discrimination, Employment / By Mitchell Locin

Equality Illinois statement from Brian C. Johnson, CEO: President Trump’s continuation of LGBTQ federal and contractor workers’ rights leaves many concerning, unanswered questions. We are deeply aware of the many ways the Trump administration could still roll back equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans. And we, as advocates for the LGBTQ community, …

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All Students Should Be Affirmed

Anti-Discrimination, Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

A statewide coalition of organizations that work with LGBTQ Illinoisans is calling on the Illinois General Assembly to reject discriminatory legislation that would isolate and stigmatize transgender and gender non-conforming youth by forcing them to use separate restrooms and locker rooms from their peers in schools. House Bill 664 is sponsored by State Rep. Tom …

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New Attempt to Attack LGBTQ Illinoisans

Anti-Discrimination / By Mitchell Locin

Equality Illinois is denouncing a new attempt by anti-LGBTQ forces in the Illinois General Assembly to discriminate against same-sex married couples. Legislation introduced in the Illinois Senate would establish a license to discriminate for individuals, organizations, non-profits, and businesses who refuse to serve LGBTQ people. If it became law, Senate Bill 64 would neutralize the …

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YOUR DONATIONS CREATE SOLIDARITY

Anti-Discrimination / By Mitchell Locin

In the aftermath of the election, so many in the LGBTQ community were at a loss. Equality Illinois suggested deepening our commitment to building bridges and not putting up walls by publicly and proudly supporting groups most under attack by the Trump campaign rhetoric. We established donation pages so that the LGBTQ community of Illinois …

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Faith & Freedom / By Mitchell Locin

Take our survey, please

Get Involved, Issues, Take Action / By Mitchell Locin

Equality Illinois will be adopting a new strategic plan effective July 1, 2017 that will outline our civil rights agenda for the upcoming 4 years. In order to make sure our agenda is most reflective of the diverse viewpoints of the LGBTQ and allied community in Illinois, we need your input. Please take a few …

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Transgender Day of Remembrance

Anti-Discrimination, Transgender / By Mitchell Locin

This Sunday we pause for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. We memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The day is also a statement that we as a community must recommit ourselves to the fight against transphobia. The disheartening list of people who lost their lives in 2016 can be found …

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Apply for Community Advisory Group

Get Involved, Issues / By Mitchell Locin

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 …

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Equality Illinois and Kirkland & Ellis Recognized for Legal Work

Conversion Therapy Ban / By Mitchell Locin

Equality Illinois is honored to have received with Kirkland & Ellis LLP the Impact Award from the TrustLaw Foundation, the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono legal program. The award celebrates our partnership with the law firm on legal research that informed our advocacy for legislation sponsored by Rep. Kelly Cassidy & Sen. Daniel Biss …

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Celebrating Labor Day

Employment / By Mitchell Locin

On Labor Day 2016, Equality Illinois celebrates the workers who thrive in LGBT-welcoming jobs as we recommit to fight for the federal Equality Act in Congress so that our labor is respected and protected in all workplaces throughout the nation.

10,000 Same-Sex Marriages in Cook County

Breaking News in Illinois, Marriage & Civil Unions / By Mitchell Locin

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 …

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Equality Illinois CEO Writes: Ban Conversion Therapy Nationally

Conversion Therapy Ban / By Mitchell Locin

In a column in the online edition of The Advocate magazine, Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson argues for a national ban on dangerous and ineffective conversion therapy practiced against ‪LGBT‬ youth. Johnson wrote in response to the lawsuit filed by a group of pastors against the new Illinois law passed and signed with bipartisan …

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