FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24th, 2023
Equality Illinois endorses in two key primary election races for state representative: Dr. Michael Crawford in Illinois House District 31 and Lisa J. Davis in Illinois House District 32.
Dr. Crawford and Ms. Davis have demonstrated a commitment to the values of equality, inclusion, and fairness – key values that form the foundation of all the progress we’ve made in Illinois for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion.
As a higher education leader, Dr. Crawford has supported and assisted LGBTQ+ students as well as advocated for and supported LGBTQ+ affirming policy and practices on campuses. He knows that the college campus may be an LGBTQ+ student’s only safe and affirming space. Dr. Crawford is committed to using his voice and vote to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and communities.
As an attorney with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, Ms. Davis has advocated for LGBTQ+ people caught up in the criminal justice system. This perspective is critical because LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately impacted and harmed by the criminal justice system. As a state legislator, she will protect the existing laws that protect LGBTQ+ Illinoisans while opposing efforts to turn back the human rights clock in Illinois.
In the Democratic Primary Election, Dr. Crawford and Ms. Davis are challenging State Rep. Mary Flowers and State Rep. Cyril Nichols, respectively.
Rep. Flowers has a long record of opposing equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ youth and families and being out of step with the values of Illinois. LGBTQ+ families remember not just her vote against marriage equality but her cruel remarks during debate. Furthermore, she opposed legislation to help youth access HIV preventative care; to adopt new learning standards for age-appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive personal health and safety education and sexual health education; and to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. And she was the only chief co-sponsor of former State Rep. Tom Morrison’s extreme legislationthat would have created a license to discriminate against trans kids in Illinois schools.
Rep. Nichols took a walk on two key bills that advanced justice in Illinois: to decriminalize HIV and to establish new age-appropriate, medically-accurate, and inclusive learning standards so youth could get the health and safety information that they need, want, and deserve. Equality Illinois also recently condemned Rep. Nichols’ partnership with the leader of an organization that violently disrupted a rally organized to call attention to the killings of Black trans women in Chicago.
In 2024, more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been introduced in state capitols across the United States. Long a beacon of equality and inclusion for people from all parts of the country, Illinois must keep moving forward. To continue our progress, we need committed pro-equality, pro-family allies in the Illinois General Assembly. We are confident Dr. Crawford and Ms. Davis will be in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people and adhere to the foundational values of the State of Illinois.
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