Recently, activists Marc Loveless, Michael O’Connor and Benny Montgomery, Jr.—former members of the Chicago Gay Men’s Black Caucus—and Illinois State Rep. Connie Howard, D-Chicago, met with officials at the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to seek additional support for House Bill 315 and Senate Bill 774.
The measure is known as the ‘Quality of Life’ bill. If passed, the measure would offer a special ‘Quality of Life’ instant scratch-off game. Revenue from the game would be put into the Quality of Life Endowment Fund. The Illinois Department of Public Health would use the funds for HIV/AIDS prevention education; in addition, monies would be allocated to organizations throughout the state that serve communities that are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. The game would commence July 1, 2007 and would be discontinued on Dec. 31, 2012.
According to a press release, while meeting with the group Deputy Director Eva-Dina Delgado said ‘ [The measure] makes sense from a public policy standpoint. We support this.’
Loveless, O’Connor and Montgomery recently left the caucus to focus more of the energy into ensuring the bill’s passage through the Illinois General Assembly.