Take Action: Illinois rightwingers want to gut LGBT protections

[Shana A]

Take Action: Illinois rightwingers want to gut LGBT protections
Filed by: Phil Reese
March 1, 2010 2:00 PM

http://www.bilerico.com/2010/03/illinois_rightwingers_want_to_gut_lgbt_protections.php

In 2005, a broad coalition of labor, LGBT, and progressive activists from across the state of Illinois joined together to form "The 85% Coalition" to pressure the legislature to pass an inclusive amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act [IHRA] to outlaw employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Illinois' law has been a model for the nation--a sweeping and successfully implemented gender and sexuality-inclusive employment non-discrimination law.

This fall, in fact, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan testified at the federal hearings on ENDA on Capitol Hill, explaining before our law-makers that the law has been a major benefit for Illinois businesses and workers.

[Jasmine.m]

Thanks. I'll post this to a few local organizations in IL.

[Julie Marie]

Illinois is one of a handful of states that has transgender protections written into law.  But now Senator Bill Brady has introduced a "rollback".

The State Senate bill (SB3447) to roll back some protections of the Illinois Human Rights Act, which currently prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, was scheduled for a hearing and a vote this Tuesday, but it did not get called.  This doesn't mean that the bill is dead.  The bill can still be called for a committee hearing and vote.

The bill would carve out exceptions to the Act, allowing certain employers and tax-exempt organizations to discriminate against Illinoisans on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.  The bill was authored by State Senator Bill Brady, Republican gubernatorial hopeful, though the chief sponsorship has since changed to State Sen. John O. Jones.

Bill Status of SB3447

No doubt, the most obvious evidence prejudice and discrimination exists in government comes when one of our elected officials introduces a bill to take away protections from minorities.

The bill effectively excludes religious organizations from complying with the law. 

Many of us have seen religious organizations wage vicious campaigns against LGBT people.  Now we are considering allowing them to legally discriminate while the rest of the employers have to follow the law.  This will only give them more fuel to continue waging hate campaigns against people they know little or nothing at all about.

Discrimination is discrimination, no matter who does it, no matter what reason they give for doing it.

[Jasmine.m]

Hi Julie Marie. Zythyra posted this yesterday, too. I forwarded the information to several concerned groups in the Chicago area.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,73515.msg501428.html

[Julie Marie]

Thanks.  I looked for something before posting but couldn't find it.  Mine was more political news, not opinions & editorials so I missed it here.

I got the info in an email from Equality Illinois.

[tekla]

It's Illinois, can't you just raise some money and bribe him to take a different position?

And, if its any compensation he will win and become governor, and we all know the next stop for any Illinois governor is not a higher office, but a cell in a federal penitentiary.

[Jasmine.m]

And, if its any compensation he will win and become governor, and we all know the next stop for any Illinois governor is not a higher office, but a cell in a federal penitentiary.

C'mon, Kat. It's only been 2/3 now! And Rod isn't quite in the pen yet...

[tekla]

And Rod isn't quite in the pen yet
Is there really any doubt as to that?  I bet they have his name on a cell already.

And I count 3 (Kerner, Walker, Ryan) who have gone in the last 35 years, with one more (Blaggo) on the way.  Though my favorite Illinois pol was Paul Powell, who was Sec of State and when he died they found like $800,000 in cash in shoe boxes in his house.

[Julie Marie]

And Rod isn't quite in the pen yet
Is there really any doubt as to that?  I bet they have his name on a cell already.

He and Patty have to finish their TV reality gigs first.  It's only fair!

It's Illinois, can't you just raise some money and bribe him to take a different position?

We can't compete with the RCC and LDS.  They got most of the cash.

[Sandy]

For what it is worth, I have contacted both my local senators and let them know of my disapproval of such a roll back.

Thanks Julie!  I appreciate you bringing this up.

We can only hope that our legislators do the right thing and abort this thing.

The price of liberty is ever vigilance.

-Sandy

[Julie Marie]

I just received this email from Equality Illinois:

Dear Julie,

You spoke up and our State Senators listened!

Last month, we warned about the attempt in State Senate to roll back some provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act and to allow certain tax-exempt organizations to discriminate in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.  The bill was authored by State Senator Bill Brady, Republican gubernatorial candidate, though the chief sponsorship was later changed to State Sen. John O. Jones.

Equality Illinois launched a forceful defense of the Human Rights Act in Springfield and across Illinois, and we urged our supporters across the state to make their voices heard.  Thousands of you participated in our call to action: by calling or emailing State Senators, by spreading our action alerts, by contributing to our advocacy efforts, and in many other ways. 

Now, thanks to the joint efforts of Equality Illinois, our allies, and supporters like you, SB3447 is dead. 


It's nice to win one once in a while. 

[Sandy]

bill brady, who initially sponsored this bill and is attempting to run for governor for Illinois would also seek to establish a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex civil marriage.

It's good to win, but we can never relax our efforts to preserve our rights.

-Sandy