General Assembly passes Senate Bill 3186

Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation will not be tolerated in Illinois      

[JAN. 12, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- On Tuesday, Illinois Department of Human Rights Director Rocco Claps commended the chief sponsors of Senate Bill 3186, Sen. Carol Ronen and Rep. Larry McKeon, and the General Assembly for passage of legislation that will protect the people of Illinois from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Senate Bill 3186 adds sexual orientation as a category under the Human Rights Act to provide protection for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, education and lending. The bill will also ensure equal access to public facilities such as hotels and theaters.

"Sexual orientation should not hinder anyone from the ability to pursue the American dream," Claps said. "The General Assembly is to be lauded for this giant step toward eliminating discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. I thank Governor Rod Blagojevich for his dedication to the rights of all the people in Illinois and look forward to his signing of this key legislation."

As the director of the Department of Human Rights, Claps is Illinois' first openly gay cabinet member.

"When I came to office, I promised to do all I could to make sure the Department of Human Rights is a powerful force against discrimination," he said. "This legislation is a much-needed tool we will use to make certain all the people of Illinois are protected from discrimination."

Illinois is the 15th state to pass legislation protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals from discrimination. The Illinois Department of Human Rights oversees the Human Rights Act and received 4,000 charges of discrimination in fiscal 2004.

Anyone who believes he or she has been the victim of discrimination should contact the Illinois Department of Human Rights at:

100 W. Randolph St., Suite 10-100
Chicago, IL 60601
[phone]
[phone] TTY

or:

222 S. College, Floor 1
Springfield, IL 62704
[phone]
[phone] TTY

Senate Bill 3186 was sponsored by state Sens. Carol Ronen, D-Chicago; Don Harmon, D-Oak Park; Martin A. Sandoval, D-Cicero; Iris Y. Martinez, D-Chicago; Louis S. Viverito, D-Burbank; Antonio Munoz, D-Chicago; Kimberly A. Lightford, D-Westchester; Jacqueline Y. Collins, D-Chicago; Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago; Jeffrey M. Schoenberg, D-Evanston; Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago; John J. Cullerton, D-Chicago; and Reps. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago; Mary E. Flowers, D-Chicago; Mark H. Beaubien Jr., R-Wauconda; Monique D. Davis, D-Chicago; Naomi D. Jacobsson, D-Champaign; Karen May, D-Highland Park; Deborah L. Graham, D-Oak Park; Kathleen A. Ryg, D-Vernon Hills; Lou Lang, D-Skokie; Harry Osterman, D-Chicago; Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago; Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago; John A. Fritchey, D-Chicago; Constance A. Howard, D-Chicago; Patricia Bailey, D-Chicago; Julie Hamos, D-Evanston; Lovana Jones, D-Chicago; Mike Boland, D-Moline; and Kenneth Dunkin, D-Chicago.

[News release]