Gay Rights Bill Awaits Blagojevich's Approval
Springfield, IL -
In what has been a decade long fight to gain civil rights protections for gays and lesbians in Illinois, the Illinois legislature has voted to ban discrimination against gays and lesbians.
The Illinois House on Tuesday approved the measure 65-51 on the final day of the session - the last possible day. The bill narrowly passed the Senate Monday night 30-27. Following the approval of the House, it was sent to Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich who is expected to sign it.
The proposal will add "sexual orientation" to the state law that protects people from bias based on race, religion and similar traits. It applies to discrimination in jobs, housing, public accommodations or credit.
Once Blagojevich signs the legislation into law Illinois will join 14 other states, including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Cities through the state, including Chicago, already have similar laws and nearly half of Illinois' population is already covered by similar local ordinances. Cook County and 15 cities have such provisions: Bloomington, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, Decatur, DeKalb, Evanston, LaGrange, Moline, Naperville, Normal, Oak Park, Peoria, Springfield, and Urbana.
"I'm elated, I'm exhausted, I'm excited, I'm relieved --- Ah, a wave of different emotions, but I'm proud to be a citizen of the state of Illinois today - that treats its citizens equally," said Mike McHale of Equality Illinois during an interview with Fox Chicago after Tuesday's victory.
The success is part of grassroots mobilizing by Equality Illinois and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered advocates and activists across the state.
Read more about SB3186 and HB949, on the Web at Illinois General Assembly.com.
Related: IL Gay Bill Passes - Reaction
(Windy City Times)
CP.com Forums: Post Your Views
The Illinois House on Tuesday approved the measure 65-51 on the final day of the session - the last possible day. The bill narrowly passed the Senate Monday night 30-27. Following the approval of the House, it was sent to Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich who is expected to sign it.
The proposal will add "sexual orientation" to the state law that protects people from bias based on race, religion and similar traits. It applies to discrimination in jobs, housing, public accommodations or credit.
Once Blagojevich signs the legislation into law Illinois will join 14 other states, including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Cities through the state, including Chicago, already have similar laws and nearly half of Illinois' population is already covered by similar local ordinances. Cook County and 15 cities have such provisions: Bloomington, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, Decatur, DeKalb, Evanston, LaGrange, Moline, Naperville, Normal, Oak Park, Peoria, Springfield, and Urbana.
"I'm elated, I'm exhausted, I'm excited, I'm relieved --- Ah, a wave of different emotions, but I'm proud to be a citizen of the state of Illinois today - that treats its citizens equally," said Mike McHale of Equality Illinois during an interview with Fox Chicago after Tuesday's victory.
The success is part of grassroots mobilizing by Equality Illinois and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered advocates and activists across the state.
Read more about SB3186 and HB949, on the Web at Illinois General Assembly.com.
Related: IL Gay Bill Passes - Reaction
(Windy City Times)
CP.com Forums: Post Your Views
