Gov. Blagojevich commemorates
25th anniversary of the Illinois Human Rights Act      

[NOV. 17, 2005]  CHICAGO -- Building on his commitment to fight all forms of discrimination and ensure equality in the state, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Illinois Human Rights Act on Wednesday, as the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Illinois Human Rights Commission conducted an awards ceremony to present the Governor's Human Rights Award to educators, human rights activists and grass-roots organizations, in recognition of their efforts to combat racism and discrimination in Illinois. Chicago's NBC 5 reporter Anita Padilla emceed the event at the James R. Thompson Center, which marked the creation of the department and commission as well.

"Today is a tribute to all those individuals and organizations that have worked hard over the years to ensure equality here in Illinois and fight discrimination," Blagojevich said. "The signing of the Illinois Human Rights Act in 1980 was a landmark event for this state, and 25 years later, we celebrate the great progress we have made and reaffirm our commitment to protect individuals from all forms of harassment and discrimination."

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn noted the efforts made by state agencies to enforce the act and presented the awards.

"Whether someone is looking for work, applying to a school or trying to find housing, no one in the Land of Lincoln should have to face discrimination or harassment," Quinn said. "I salute the Department of Human Rights and the Human Rights Commission for their dedicated efforts in protecting the rights of everyone in Illinois over the past quarter-century."

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (with regard to employment), age 40 and over, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military service, or unfavorable military discharge. As of Jan. 1, 2006, the law will extend its protection and prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

"In its 25-year history, the Illinois Department of Human Rights has expanded its programs to meet the challenges of an ever-growing and more diverse state," said Rocco Claps, department director. "Under Governor Blagojevich's leadership, we have strengthened the Illinois Human Rights Act to protect individuals from intimidation and coercion when renting or buying housing. We have also toughened hate crimes statutes to prevent harassment through electronic communication, including the Internet, and added protection from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation. By actively investigating charges of discrimination, we are doing our part to protect Illinoisans from discrimination and racism."

The Illinois Human Rights Commission is dedicated to promoting freedom from unlawful discrimination as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act and is responsible for making impartial determinations of whether there has been unlawful discrimination as defined by the act.

"This event gives us an opportunity to celebrate our extraordinary history and move ever forward in pursuit of fairness and justice for victims of discrimination," said JB Pritzker, chairman of the Illinois Human Rights Commission. "By presenting these awards, we show that heroes do exist and that we live among them every day."

Both the department and the commission work to end discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, real estate transactions, higher education and access to financial credit.

Individuals and organizations honored with the Human Rights Award were:

Peggy A. Montes, founder, Bronzeville Children's Museum

Peggy Montes is the founder of the Bronzeville Children's Museum, the first and only African-American children's museum in the country. She is a member of the Illinois Art Council and a trustee at both the DuSable Museum of African American History and Chicago State University.

Emma Lozano, executive director, Centro Sin Fronteras

Emma Lozano is the executive director of Centro Sin Fronteras, an immigrant rights association representing Latinos. Lozano and this organization have been at the forefront of groups fighting to improve conditions for Latino immigrants.

Will Jordan, executive director, the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council

Founded in 1992, the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council seeks to ensure equal access to housing for all people through education, counseling, investigation and enforcement. The council conducts outreach for the general public, local government bodies and housing providers.

Sam Harris, president, Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois

Sam Harris is president of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois, which teaches the history and universal lessons of the Holocaust to tens of thousands of Illinois students every year. Sam was only 4 years old when World War II broke out in 1939 and survived four years in the Demblin and Czestochowa concentration camps.

The Howard Brown Health Center

Founded in 1974, Howard Brown Health Center specializes in the unique medical and psychosocial needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. With the onset of AIDS, Howard Brown was the first community-based agency in Chicago to respond, including the introduction of the first AIDS hot line in the Midwest.

Equality Illinois

Equality Illinois secures, protects and defends the basic civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the state of Illinois. Equality Illinois achieved a benchmark victory with expansion of the Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Over the years, Equality Illinois has worked with local communities statewide to pass local nondiscrimination ordinances. Equality Illinois has also worked with numerous corporations in establishing nondiscrimination policies and domestic partnership benefits for their employees.

Dr. Farzana Hamid, (posthumous), Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services

Dr. Farzana Hamid, one of the founders of the Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services, was serving as the organization's executive director when she died unexpectedly in August 2005. Since 1993, the Hamdard Center has been a leading center for the development of culturally tailored and bilingual services for depression, mental health and domestic violence survival services for South Asian and Middle Eastern American communities. The Hamdard Center provides services in Arabic, English, Farsi, Gujarati, Bosnian, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Japanese and Spanish. Hamid's expertise and contributions helped the Hamdard Center provide services to thousands of women and families.

Diana Braun and Kathy Conour, disability movement activists and lobbyists

Diana Braun is a woman with Down syndrome, and Kathy Conour is a woman with cerebral palsy. Diana and Kathy met at a sheltered workshop three decades ago and vowed to live independent lives. Fearful of being shut away in a nursing home or forced into an institution, they escaped the system. Determined to live independent, noninstitutionalized lives and to earn more than menial wages at a sheltered workshop, Diane and Kathy moved to Springfield, built a house and successfully integrated into the community. They have established themselves as a tireless, dynamic pair of well-known lobbyists and activists in the disability movement. Through their grass-roots efforts, Diana and Kathy have worked to educate others about advocacy and self-determination for people with disabilities. They both serve on boards and regularly lobby for disability rights in Washington, D.C., and throughout the state of Illinois and are currently involved in the filming of a documentary about their lives, entitled "Diana and Kathy: Beyond Words."

James Sledge, executive director of the Illinois Human Rights Commission, presented an Illinois Human Rights Act Founder Award to Commissioner Dolly Hallstrom, and Illinois Department of Human Rights Deputy Director Bobbie Wanzo presented the award to Joyce Tucker, vice president of global diversity and employee rights for the Boeing Company.

Former state legislator Mary Jeanne "Dolly" Hallstrom is one of Illinois' most dedicated advocates for disability rights. Some of her work built the foundations for special education in Illinois and the nation. Hallstrom is known as a friend and mother fighting for the dignity and justice of children and for her exceptional statesmanship and pioneering efforts.

Joyce Tucker is responsible for establishing and implementing innovative diversity initiatives at the Boeing Company. Tucker served as commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where she served from 1990 to 1996. Prior to this appointment, she served for 10 years in the Illinois governor's cabinet as the first director of the Illinois Department of Human Rights.

Since taking office, the governor has taken strong measures to protect individuals and families against discrimination in Illinois, by:

• Signing into law House Bill 917, which makes it a civil violation to coerce, intimidate, threaten or interfere with an individual's right to fair housing, including discriminatory actions such as racial slurs and hate crimes. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2006.
• Signing into law Senate Bill 287, which makes it a hate crime to harass or threaten an individual through telephones, faxes or e-mails, including intentionally interrupting an individual's telephone service. The law went into effect upon signing.
• Signing into law Senate Bill 3186, which extends protections under the Illinois Human Rights Act to protect people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. Illinois became the 15th state in the nation to extend equal protection for its gay and lesbian residents. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2006.

The Illinois Department of Human Rights investigates allegations of discrimination under the Illinois Human Rights Act. The department employs a professional staff, including investigators, who are dedicated to fighting unlawful discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Commission is dedicated to promoting freedom and fighting unlawful discrimination as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. The commission provides a neutral forum for resolving discrimination complaints filed under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

[News release from the governor's office]