Enhanced LGBT hate crimes protections bill sent to Governor Rauner to sign
Wed. May 20, 2015 3:05 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Springfield, IL -
The Illinois Senate on Wednesday unanimously gave final approval to a bill enhancing hate crimes protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans. Last month, House Bill 3930, passed the Illinois House of Representatives without opposition. Now, the bill goes to Gov. Bruce Rauner for his review and approval.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, state Rep. Sam Yingling, and state Sen. Daniel Biss were the measure's chief sponsors. Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state's oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization, said, "We believe Gov. Rauner should sign this legislation so all Illinoisans can feel safe being who they are."
Authored by Equality Illinois, HB 3930 ensures transgender Illinoisans are explicitly covered by the state's hate crimes law and adds LGBT community centers to the list of facilities protected from hate-based institutional vandalism. "We applaud and thank the Illinois General Assembly for unanimously approving this legislation." Cherkasov said.
"This is the first of what we expect will be a series of bills to reach the governor's desk to improve the lives of LGBT Illinoisans. Equality Illinois has held discussions with the governor and his staff about this important agenda, and we are hopeful that he will sign these bills into law," said Cherkasov.
HB 3930 is one of the many bills that Equality Illinois is advocating for this legislative session in Springfield. Equality Illinois is advocating for a bill to protect LGBT youth from harmful conversion therapy, which passed the Illinois House yesterday and is awaiting action in the Senate.
From news release.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, state Rep. Sam Yingling, and state Sen. Daniel Biss were the measure's chief sponsors. Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state's oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization, said, "We believe Gov. Rauner should sign this legislation so all Illinoisans can feel safe being who they are."
Authored by Equality Illinois, HB 3930 ensures transgender Illinoisans are explicitly covered by the state's hate crimes law and adds LGBT community centers to the list of facilities protected from hate-based institutional vandalism. "We applaud and thank the Illinois General Assembly for unanimously approving this legislation." Cherkasov said.
"This is the first of what we expect will be a series of bills to reach the governor's desk to improve the lives of LGBT Illinoisans. Equality Illinois has held discussions with the governor and his staff about this important agenda, and we are hopeful that he will sign these bills into law," said Cherkasov.
HB 3930 is one of the many bills that Equality Illinois is advocating for this legislative session in Springfield. Equality Illinois is advocating for a bill to protect LGBT youth from harmful conversion therapy, which passed the Illinois House yesterday and is awaiting action in the Senate.
From news release.