TAKE ACTION: Anti-Gay Bill Filed in Illinois Senate, Voting Today

Last month Rod 2.0 reported the Illinois ultra-conservative Republican gubernatorial front-runner proposed changing the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. That probably will not happen anytime soon but another measure proposed by State Sen. Bill Brady is gaining traction: Rolling back some of the protections in the Illinois Human Rights Bill, which prohibits discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity.

A bill has been filed in the Senate and a committee will vote today, reports Windy City Times.

SB3447, if passed, would allow secular nonprofit institutions and organizations claiming an affiliation with a religious institution or society to legally discriminate against its employees based on religious belief and sexual orientation. Several organizations have taken action. For example, LGBT Change is directing people to visit here to fill out a petition that will be sent to the person's state senator and representative. Equality Illinois is urging individuals to contact their state senators, especially if they are on the 11-member Judiciary Committee, which is considering the measure first. State Sen. Bill Brady—currently the Republican candidate for governor—originally filed the measure. However, state Sen. John O. Jones now is shown as the chief sponsor. The committee is scheduled to vote on the measure March 2.

If you're in Illinois: Equality Illinois has an action alert and legislative contacts HERE. Please call your reps.

The Judiciary Committee votes today at 3PM. The outlook is "very cautious but optimistic", a Chicago LGBT activist familiar with Springfield tells R20. We'll update the story as soon as we have a vote totals.

Personal injury lawyers

Free accident claims

Comments

[Mike_88]

It did get called, but this only delays the trouble. I really rather not have him on office, but Illinois is in really deep fiscal trouble and I kinda struggle to think beyond the gay rights perspective and convince people not to vote for him. But if the general assembly have to power to undermine this, I guess I'd be more confident.