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Equality Act would provide federal civil rights protections to 13M LGBTs
--From a press release
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, federal legislation that would expressly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity under existing civil rights laws. LGBT ...
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ELECTIONS Chicago alderman exploring secretary of state run
According to Politico Playbook, Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) is exploring the possibility of running for secretary of state. I know I can build on the work that Secretary [of State Jesse] White has done ...
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Harris reveals legislative agenda for 2021
--From a press release
With remote committee hearings starting next week, the Spring Session is now truly underway. I wanted to share my legislative agenda for this year with you. In addition to my duties as chief budget negotiator for ...
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Mike Madigan picks second successor
On Feb. 25, Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar was sworn in as the new 22nd District state representative, media outlets reported. Guerrero-Cuellar is the second person to succeed now-former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan in less than a week. ...
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House passes Equality Act, LGBTQ Victory Institute demands Senate vote
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Institute — the only national organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ elected officials — applauded the U.S. House for passing the Equality Act and called on U.S. senators not to filibuster ...
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Vaccine eligibility opens to Illinoisans with serious medical conditions
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Building on efforts to equitably distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Health today announced that Illinoisans with serious medical conditions can be vaccinated ...
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Dr. Rachel Levine confirmation hearing today, to be first trans Senate-confirmed appointee
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today Dr. Rachel Levine will testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about her experience and qualifications to be the next U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health. If moved ...
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Victory Institute condemns Rand Paul attack on
Dr. Rachel Levine, trans youth
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Institute condemned Senator Rand Paul's transphobic attack on Dr. Rachel Levine during her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. He attacked trans you ...
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Advocates, legislators introduce bill to
decriminalize HIV in Illinois
--From a press release
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Legislation was introduced in Springfield this week to end criminal penalties against people living with HIV (PLWH), which serve only to stigmatize and discriminate against PLWH. Current Illinois law makes legal behavior — ...
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Three Illinoisans among Victory Fund's latest endorsed candidates
On Feb. 24, LGBTQ Victory Fund—the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office—issued a press release announcing its endorsement of 30 more LGBTQ candidates for 2021 races. Illinois candidates in the group ...
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Daniel Biss wins Evanston mayoral race
Former Illinois state Sen. Daniel Biss, a Democrat, won the Evanston mayoral race on Feb. 23, media outlets reported. An hour after polls closed, Biss had collected more than 73 percent of the votes counted and ...
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Mike Madigan now wants successor to step down
Just two days after appointing Edward Guerra Kodatt as his successor, former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has asked him to step down, according to various media outlets. Marty Quinn, alderman of Chicago's 13th Ward, joined ...
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1.3 million adult immigrants in the US identify as LGBT
--From a press release
LGBT immigrants are more often male and younger compared to all immigrants in the country An estimated 1,274,500 LGBT foreign-born adults live in the U.S., including 289,700 who are undocumented and 984,800 who are documented, according ...
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Madigan resigns as state Democratic chair
On Feb. 22, former longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan resigned as chairman of the state Democratic Party—one day after anointing 26-year-old constituent services worker Edward Guerra Kodatt to fill the legislative seat he held for ...
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Mike Madigan chooses successor
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Feb. 21 he hasn't made a decision on how long he will continue as state Democratic Party chairman as he installed a 26-year-old constituent services worker as his successor ...
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WORLD Canadian groups, Moroccan refugee, LGBT+ Rights Ghana, trans heroine
From $400,000 in funding for a national initiative aimed at expanding two-spirit advocacy, to $239,000 to improve LGBTQ youth housing access in the Prairies, 76 Canadian community groups are being sent nearly $15 million from the ...
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Equality Act introduced Feb. 18
The Equality Act was formally reintroduced to Congress on Feb. 18 by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and openly gay U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, Gay City News reported. The legislation, which most recently passed the lower chamber ...
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Equality Act reintroduced in House of Representatives, NCLR responds
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, NCLR lauded the reintroduction of the Equality Act (H.R. 5), a bipartisan comprehensive federal civil rights bill that would create permanent protections for LGBTQ individuals, women ...
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Mike Madigan to resign from Illinois House
Illinois state Rep. Michael Madigan announced that he plans to resign from the Illinois House at the end of this month, The Chicago Tribune reported. Madigan has represented a Southwest Side district for a half-century—the majority ...
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Lightfoot wants local statues and plaques reviewed
Statues of presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley, as well as the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, were among the 41 public statues and other commemorative markers that Chicago ...
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NATIONAL: Missing gay man, paramedic's suit, Equality Act, Bayard Rustin
San Francisco police are seeking the public's help finding a gay man who went missing, seemingly without a trace, The Bay Area Reporter noted. The mother of Christopher J. Woitel, 50, last heard from him Jan. ...
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WORLD School items, Olympics, Angola law, Dutch senate
Toronto's Catholic school board reinstated the link to an LGBT support phone line on its website following outrage from the community, according to Yahoo! News, citing The Canadian Press. The school board removed LGBT YouthLine from ...
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Mike Simmons talks about making history in Illinois state Senate
In a historic move on Feb. 6, Mike Simmons——who is Black (half African-American, half Ethiopian) and gay— was chosen to succeed Heather Steans as Illinois state senator for the 7th District. According to Simmons, he will ...
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Trump acquitted again on Feb. 13
On Feb. 13, the U.S. Senate acquitted Donald Trump of inciting the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, concluding a historic impeachment trial, The Chicago Tribune reported. The Senate convened for a rare weekend ...
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Man charged with vandalizing Ald. Lopez's office
A man has been charged with spray-painting the office of Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez, according to a Chicago Sun-Times item. Antonio Torres, 28, of the 3900 block of South Artesian Avenue, was arrested and charged with ...
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Quigley statement on HUD announcement of enforcement of Fair Housing Act
--From a press release
Chicago, IL — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, released a statement after the ...
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HUD to enforce act prohibiting discrimination on sexual orientation, gender identity
--From a press release
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it will administer and enforce the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. HUD's Office ...
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COVID Pritzker announces expansion of Phase 1B eligibility on Feb. 25
In light of a steadily increasing federal vaccine supply, Gov. JB Pritzker announced that Illinois is making plans to expand Phase 1B eligibility on Thursday, Feb. 25, to people who have comorbidities and underlying conditions as ...
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Biden administration postponing discriminatory Trump-era HHS change, HRC responds
--From a press release
WASHINGTON — Today, in response to a legal challenge, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agreed to a court order that will temporarily halt a Trump-era discriminatory rule change that would have permitted discrimination ...
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COVID Lightfoot announces plan to ease restrictions in Chicago
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection announced a roadmap for Chicago to continue to cautiously ease regulations on businesses as COVID-19 metrics improve. ...
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GLAAD: Senators vote against response to riot but introduce anti-trans bill
--From a press release
Five of the eight senators objecting to Electoral College votes and voting against the second Trump impeachment trial have cosponsored a new bill targeting transgender youth, adding to history of anti-LGBTQ votes and views GLAAD: "More ...
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U.S. senators vote to proceed with Trump impeachment trial
On Feb. 9, U.S. senators in former President Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial agreed to consider the case, rejecting an attempt by the former president's defense team and some Republican allies to halt the trial ...
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Chicago Votes hiring formerly incarcerated individuals for Civic Leaders Program
--From a press release
Chicago — Chicago Votes is growing their Unlock Civics work and team, hiring formerly incarcerated individuals for their Civic Leaders program. Chicago Votes' Unlock Civics initiative aims to break down barriers people impacted by the American ...
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Krishnamoorthi named vice chair of Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus
On Feb. 5, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois) was named as a vice chair of the Equality Caucus—the premier Congressional Caucus fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and combating discrimination at the federal level. Although President Joe Biden ...
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Equality Illinois holds virtual 2021 gala
Singer Alicia Keys was among the headliners as the Chicago-based LGBTQ-rights advocacy Equality Illinois held an online edition of its annual gala the evening of February 6. Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot were among ...
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NATIONAL Black History Month, anti-trans bills, Penn. politician, HIV measure
In honor of Black History Month, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) announced its acquisition of the Ubuntu Biography Project, a press release noted. The Ubuntu Biography Project, created by Stephen A. Maglott, celebrates the legacies ...
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WORLD Turkish items, Gibraltar couple, lesbian lawmaker dies, Australia
In Turkey, four students were arrested over artwork that reportedly depicted LGBT rainbow symbols alongside an image of a sacred Islamic site, the BBC reported. Students at Bogazici University in Istanbul have been protesting against the ...
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Gay Black man picked to succeed Steans in Illinois Senate
In a historic move, Mike Simmons—who is Black (half African-American, half Ethiopian) and gay—has been chosen to succeed Heather Steans as Illinois state senator for the 7th District. He was sworn in Feb. 6. On Facebook, ...
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Wyoming GOP censures Liz Cheney over impeachment vote
On Feb. 6, the Wyoming Republican Party voted to censure U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and asked her to resign for her vote last month to impeach then-President Donald Trump after the insurrection at the Capitol on ...
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Gay Black man presides over U.S. House
On Feb. 4, U.S. Congressman Mondaire Jones (D-New York) released a statement after he became the first openly gay, Black member of Congress to preside over floor proceedings in the House of Representatives, according to the ...
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Biden issues global pro-LGBTQI memorandum
On Feb. 4, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a presidential memorandum aimed at expanding protection of the rights of LGBTQI people worldwide, including potentially through the use of financial sanctions, U.S. News & World Report reported. ...
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HRC responds to Rand Paul's questions about trans children
On Feb. 3, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the confirmation of Connecticut Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona to be Secretary of Education. During the event, U.S. Sen. Rand ...
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Lightfoot replaces Villegas with Harris as floor leader
In a press release, Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced that she appointed Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward) as her new floor leader, as well as Ald. George Cardenas (12th Ward) in the new position of ...
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Equality Illinois, Rainbow Cafe, legislators, PPIA reintroduce REACH Act
Illinois state Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-8), state Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-77), Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA), Equality Illinois and Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Youth Center held a press conference Feb. 2 ...
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Pete Buttigieg is first LGBTQ Senate-confirmed cabinet member
--From a Victory Institute press release
Washington, DC — Today the United States Senate confirmed Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation, making him the first out LGBTQ person ever confirmed for a cabinet position. Buttigieg is one of dozens of high-profile LGBTQ ...
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Former Mayor Emanuel being considered for ambassadorship
President Joe Biden is reportedly considering former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for a high-profile ambassadorship—potentially to China, according to NBC News. Becoming the U.S. ambassador to Japan is another option ...
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COVID 'Building Black Power' discussion on Feb. 8
In honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the Illinois Alliance for Sound AIDS Policy (IL ASAP)—a project of AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC)—is hosting "Building Black Power in the Age ...
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MMAA condemns Cong. Marjorie Taylor Greene's 'Hate American Flags' statement
--From a Modern Military Association of America press release
WASHINGTON — Tonight, the Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) — the nation's largest LGBTQ military and veteran non-profit organization — condemns Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's statement on 'hate Ameri ...
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Kinzinger launches 'Country First' GOP PAC
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger—a Congressman from Illinois who was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach now-former President Trump for "incitement of insurrection" following the then-president's speech goading supporters ...
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NATIONAL Puerto Rico action, firefighter, HIV drug, trans candidate, Janelle Monae
Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro R. Pierluisi declared a state of emergency to combat violence committed against the transgender community, out.com reported. Pierluisi signed an executive order in response to the surge in violent killings of transgender ...
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WORLD Trans honoree, Sophie dies, famous Africans come out, Leo Varadkar
In India, the list of Padma awards recipients this year included a transgender individual from Karnataka who has, over the past many decades, practiced and single-handedly popularized rural folk arts, according to NDTV. For Manjamma Jogathi, ...
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COVID Lightfoot: Restrictions for bars, restaurants will remain
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city will keep the current indoor dining limits at restaurants in place even if the state allows the city to loosen capacity rules Feb. 2, The Chicago Tribune reported. The ...
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Cook County Board unanimously approves immigration resolution
On Jan. 28, the Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved resolution #21-0495, which calls upon the federal government to implement policies to protect the immigrant community and strengthen the immigration system in the United States. ...
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Removing "Global Gag" will benefit millions of women worldwide, leaders comment
--From press releases
On Jan. 28, President Joe Biden signed a presidential memorandum that will reverse restrictions on abortion access domestically and abroad imposed and expanded by the Trump administration, CNN.com reported. ...
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Biden plan increases access to health care for millions of LGBT people
--From a press release
Today, President Biden signed several executive orders aimed at improving access to health care. One order directs the Department of Health and Human Services to review the Title X gag rule, which restricts federal funding to ...
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Gay man to vie for state rep's spot--on one condition
Openly gay business owner Tom Elliott has announced that he plans to run for Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy's seat—should a vacancy arise. On Facebook, he posted, "My State Senator [Heather Steans] announced her resignation and ...
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Pete Buttigieg set to become first LGBTQ Senate-confirmed cabinet member
--From a press release from the LGBTQ Victory Institute
Washington, DC — Today the United States Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation recommended the full Senate confirm Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation by a vote of 21 to 3. The recommendation paves the ...
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350+ groups sign letter supporting Dr. Rachel Levine's nomination to HHS
--From a press release from the LGBTQ Victory Institute
LGBTQ Victory Institute Joins Hundreds of Organizations in Supporting Dr. Rachel Levine's Nomination to HHS More than 350 groups have signed a letter in support of President Biden's nominee; President Biden nominated Dr. Levine for U.S. ...
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Gay Black man aims for state Senate seat
Mike Simmons-Gessesse has announced that he is running for the seat that Illinois state Sen. Heather Steans recently vacated. On Facebook, Simmons-Gessesse posted, "Since it was announced in the Illinois POLITICO Playbook and Capitol Fax Blog ...
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COVID Pritzker announces state coronavirus website
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced a new portal on coronavirus.illinois.gov to provide residents with easily accessible information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Coronavirus.illinois.gov will provide eligible residents with nearby vaccination sites ...
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Biden's repeal of trans military ban impacts over 15,500 adults in the military
--From a Williams Institute press release
A summary of current data on transgender military service in U.S. Today, President Biden signed an executive order ending the ban on transgender military service. The directive instructs the Department of Defense to reinstate the 2016 ...
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LGBTQA+ organizations praise Biden's lift of trans military ban
After President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Jan. 25 lifting former President Donald Trump's ban on transgender individuals being in the military, several LGBTQA+ groups and individuals issued press releases praising the move: —LGBTQ ...
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Biden's relief plan grows assistance for 3M LGBT adults experiencing food insecurity
Today, President Biden signed executive orders to address the economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis. The orders include plans to expand the federal nutrition assistance program, pause federal debt payments for veterans, establish a $15 an ...
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NATIONAL Bidens, NYC businesses, notable deaths, anti-Trump suit
President Joe Biden and his team recently named openly gay man Jeff Marootian as special assistant to the president on Climate and Science Agency Personnel, according to Instinct Magazine, citing The Washington Blade. Marootian is one ...
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WORLD Honduran Congress, deportation, Canadian support, athlete comes out
On Jan. 21, members of the Honduran Congress voted to amend the constitution, making it much harder to reverse existing hard-line bans on abortion and same-sex marriage, as lawmakers double down on socially conservative priorities, Openly ...
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LGBTQ+ Americans greet the Biden-Harris era with hope, hesitancy
Kate Sosin, 19thnews.org
To many, the moment marks a new dawn, the end of deeply distressing four years. Others are simply exhausted. A lot of kids spend their teenage years worrying about dates and dances. Eli Bundy has spent ...
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Pritzker: Illinois moving into Phase 1B of COVID vaccination plan
Building on the state's progress in administering the COVID-19 vaccine, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced the state will move into the early stages of Phase 1B of the COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Plan beginning Monday, Jan. 25. ...
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Equality Caucus applauds early pro-LGBTQ+ actions of Biden administration
--From a press release
Washington, D.C. — The Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus is pleased to see important steps already taken by the Biden Administration to promote fairness and equality for the LGBTQ+ community and applauds the President and his team ...
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Governors, Lt. Governors encourage all to make a plan and get vaccinated
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Today, Governor Pritzker and governors and lieutenant governors from Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin joined together to encourage everyone to make a plan for how they can get the safe and effective ...
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Gov. Pritzker praises President Biden's plan to combat COVID-19
--From a press release
Gov. Pritzker Statement on the Announcement of President Biden's Plan to Combat COVID-19 CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker issued the following statement following President Biden's announcement of the national plan to combat COVID-19. "One ye ...
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As Sen. Heather Steans resigns, Planned Parenthood of Illinois comments on her work
--From a press release
Statement from Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action: "We will miss working with Senator Heather Steans, a fierce champion for reproductive rights in Illinois. As the lead Senate sponsor for HB40 and ...
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Alexi Giannoulias running for secretary of state in 2022
Alexi Giannoulias—a Democratic politician and financier who was Illinois state treasurer during 2007-11—has thrown his hat back into the political ring, as he plans to run for Illinois secretary of state in 2022. He would succeed ...
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Day 2 Executive Order prohibits discrimination against millions of LGBTQs
--From a press release
Today, President Biden directed federal agencies to affirm that LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination under existing civil rights statutes. Biden is the first president to issue an Executive Order directly on LGBTQ rights on the ...
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AMA applauds Biden Day 1 actions on COVID-19, racial equity, climate, WHO
--From a press release
CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) today applauded the Biden Administration's first-day actions that tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, re-engage with the World Health Organization (WHO), and ...
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Day 1 executive orders impact millions of LGBTQ youth, adults of diverse communities
--From a Williams Institute press release
Today, President Biden signed a sweeping executive order directing federal agencies to adopt a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including in federal employment, policies, programs, and services. This is the first day one executive ...
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