Cook County poised to vote on Gender Inclusive language in docs, forms; Danica Roem praises law
Mon. June 21, 2021 2:30 PM by Gerald Farinas
lgbtq pride flag flies outside cook co. bldg., chicago
photo credit // facebook.com/cookcountygov
Cook County Board of Commissioners is poised to vote on the Gender Inclusive Documents and Forms Ordinance this week. The law would create a policy affecting how gender is noted on documents filed through Cook County, Illinois.
Commissioner Kevin Morrison (D-15th)—the first openly LGBTQ county board member—introduced the ordinance to support transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming residents.
Morrison explained in a Monday press conference to urge the ordinance's passage, the law would “ban asking a person's sex on forms unless required, and ask both 'sex assigned at birth' and gender identity when a person's sex must be identified.”
Also, the law would “add more gender identity options to documents and forms, including: transgender woman/transfeminine; transgender man/transmasculine; nonbinary/gender nonconforming; and option to fill in; and decline to answer.”
The law would also add the gender neutral salutation of 'Mx.' to other honorifics like 'Mr.', 'Mrs.', 'Ms.', 'Dr.', and 'Rev.'
Virginia state Del. Danica Roem (D-13th)—the first openly transgender person to be elected and serve in any of the U.S. state legislatures—offered her enthusiastic support for the measure.
Roem asserted the importance of the ordinance to the overall health and well-being of transgender persons—and a recognition of their dignity and respect for their civil rights.
The effort is also sponsored by the state's largest LGBTQ lobby, Equality Illinois, as well as the Brave Space Alliance—an LGBTQ community center that serves mostly people of color and residents of Chicago's south and west sides.
Myles Brady Davis of Equality Illinois and Stephanie Skora of Brave Space Alliance joined Morrison to rally for public support.
The Kenneth Young Center of Mt. Prospect, Ill.—a social services organization that also serves as an area LGBTQ center—favors the law's passage. They were represented by Sherrine Peyton, director of Community Collaboration.
Morrison represents suburban Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Schaumburg, and parts of Palatine and Wheeling. He is vice chair of the Human Relations committee.
The ordinance will receive a Human Relations committee vote on June 22 at 1:30 p.m. and is expected to receive a full Cook County Board of Commissioners vote on June 24.
Cook County would be one of the pioneers for such a law.
Other counties and municipalities across the country are expected to consider similar measures.
Commissioner Kevin Morrison (D-15th)—the first openly LGBTQ county board member—introduced the ordinance to support transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming residents.
Morrison explained in a Monday press conference to urge the ordinance's passage, the law would “ban asking a person's sex on forms unless required, and ask both 'sex assigned at birth' and gender identity when a person's sex must be identified.”
Also, the law would “add more gender identity options to documents and forms, including: transgender woman/transfeminine; transgender man/transmasculine; nonbinary/gender nonconforming; and option to fill in; and decline to answer.”
The law would also add the gender neutral salutation of 'Mx.' to other honorifics like 'Mr.', 'Mrs.', 'Ms.', 'Dr.', and 'Rev.'
Virginia state Del. Danica Roem (D-13th)—the first openly transgender person to be elected and serve in any of the U.S. state legislatures—offered her enthusiastic support for the measure.
Roem asserted the importance of the ordinance to the overall health and well-being of transgender persons—and a recognition of their dignity and respect for their civil rights.
The effort is also sponsored by the state's largest LGBTQ lobby, Equality Illinois, as well as the Brave Space Alliance—an LGBTQ community center that serves mostly people of color and residents of Chicago's south and west sides.
Myles Brady Davis of Equality Illinois and Stephanie Skora of Brave Space Alliance joined Morrison to rally for public support.
The Kenneth Young Center of Mt. Prospect, Ill.—a social services organization that also serves as an area LGBTQ center—favors the law's passage. They were represented by Sherrine Peyton, director of Community Collaboration.
Morrison represents suburban Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Schaumburg, and parts of Palatine and Wheeling. He is vice chair of the Human Relations committee.
The ordinance will receive a Human Relations committee vote on June 22 at 1:30 p.m. and is expected to receive a full Cook County Board of Commissioners vote on June 24.
Cook County would be one of the pioneers for such a law.
Other counties and municipalities across the country are expected to consider similar measures.