As of today, the largest formal LGBTQ equality event in the
Midwest, the Equality Illinois 2019 Gala has SOLD OUT of Individual Tickets!
We are incredibly
grateful for the breath of support shown to the LGBTQ community. Selling out a
venue like the Chicago Hilton demonstrates how important LGBTQ people are to
the fabric of this state.
If you will be joining
a sponsor or table captain at one of their tables, please reach out to them for
the link to secure your ticket.
This year’s Gala is chaired by community leader
Nabeela Rasheed. South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg, a rising national
star among Democrats, will be the keynote speaker! Each year we award
inspirational leaders and organizations whose selfless work helps create a
world that is healthy, just and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. This year we
will celebrate and honor Channyn Lynne Parker, Danny Wirtz, and the Illinois
AFL-CIO.
Ahead of Chicago’s approaching mayoral election, LGBTQ Chicagoans have an opportunity to hear directly about issues impacting their lives at the LGBTQ Forum with Chicago Mayoral Candidates on Saturday, January 19 at 2 p.m. #LGTBQMayor2019
Mayoral candidates who have confirmed attendance as of Jan. 8 include: Gery Chico, Amara Enyia, Bob Fioretti, LaShawn Ford, Jerry Joyce, John Kozlar, Lori Lightfoot, Garry McCarthy, Susana Mendoza, Toni Preckwinkle, and Paul Vallas.
Submit questions for the candidates and RSVP by clicking the Learn more button.
Equality Illinois Celebrates the Appointment of Openly Gay State Rep. Greg Harris as Illinois House Majority Leader and Thanks Speaker Michael J. Madigan for his Leadership
A statement from Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state’s civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Illinoisans:
“We are excited by Speaker Michael J. Madigan’s appointment today of State Representative Greg Harris to be the next Illinois House Majority Leader. This is a historic appointment. Leader Harris is the first openly gay person to hold the important role of Illinois House Majority Leader.
“We know Leader Harris as a true champion of advancing justice and equality for LGBTQ people and all historically marginalized communities. We look forward to working with him in this significant leadership role to continue advancing justice in Illinois.
“We thank Speaker Madigan for his significant leadership in advancing LGBTQ equality in Illinois. Just yesterday, we heard in nominating speeches of the Speaker’s critical role in passing marriage equality legislation in Illinois. Today, his appointment of Leader Harris further demonstrates the Speaker’s commitment to LGBTQ equality and representation.”
On December 21, 1988, with a vote of 28-17 the City Council passed the Human Rights Ordinance. This Passage of the ordinance on Human Rights, was a turning point in Chicago LGBT history because it granted the queer community social equality under the law and made it illegal to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals and other kinds of diversity and other such as people with disabilities, marital status, race, age, religion and several other categories.
It was because of the strategies of the late Mayor Harold Washington, and the powerful “Gang of four”; Laurie Dittman, Rick Garcia, Arthur (Art) Johnston and the late Jon-Henri Damski; who served as a fierce group of activists and were instrumental in the final passage of the ordinance.
We are grateful for their efforts and countless others in our community, who have contributed and committed to the equality we have been granted today.
In preparation for the upcoming Market Days festival, the largest two-day street festival in the Midwest, LGBT leaders including the Equality Illinois Political Action Committee plan to call attention to Bruce Rauner’s anti-LGBT activities and ongoing conservative social agenda for Illinois.
Equality Illinois organizations and activists say that Rauner, who has claimed not to be running on a socially conservative agenda, has contributed to anti-gay candidates, as has his wife, Diana. The Market Days flyers, made up to look like voided marriage certificates, point to $95,400 in contributions the Rauners gave to anti-LGBT candidates.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi meets with the EQIL delegation, including CEO Bernard Cherkasov
An Equality Illinois delegation spent Thursday, January 9 in Washington, DC meeting with leaders to discuss a wide range of issues and emphasizing that despite great gains in 2013, the agenda remains full and there should be no complacency.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and the Obama administration officials in attendance were very receptive and welcomed the input.
In preparation for the upcoming Market Days festival, the largest two-day street festival in the Midwest, LGBT leaders including the Equality Illinois Political Action Committee plan to call attention to Bruce Rauner’s anti-LGBT activities and ongoing conservative social agenda for Illinois.
