Contact:
Bernard Cherkasov, CEO
773-477-7173
Rick Garcia, Public Policy Director
312-560-0405
ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION URGED TO
SUPPORT FEDERAL GAY RIGHTS BILL
Over twenty leaders of organizations send
joint letter to Congress
CHICAGO –
More than twenty leaders of Illinois religious, civic, civil rights and
labor organizations have written to the Illinois members of Congress asking
them to vote for the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which
would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
and gender identity.
The signers pointed out that in 2005 the Illinois Human Rights Act was
amended to include sexual orientation and gender identity and that “job
security should not depend on the state or city in which a person works”.
The signers also noted that “labor unions and businesses throughout
our state, large and small, have implemented policies to prohibit LGBT
discrimination including Abbott, Sara Lee and Walgreens”.
“Companies such as these have long realized that judging a worker based on
qualification and merit, rather than personal characteristics like sexual
orientation or gender identity is the best business practice,” said Bernard
Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois the organization that organized the
joint letter.
Last Thursday, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan gave testimony before
the US Senate Committee hearing on ENDA.
Attorney General Madigan testified that sixteen Illinois
municipalities have had similar legislation for years and the statewide
nondiscrimination bill has been in effect for three years.
The laws have caused no problems with businesses or religious
institutions and that they have been good for Illinois.
ENDA is expected to come for a vote in the United States House before the
end of the year and in the Senate early next year.
It enjoys wide support in the business, religious, civic and civil
rights communities.
Among the singers of the letter are the leaders of USAction, Citizen Action,
SEIU Illinois Council, Local 1 Unite Here, Ant-Defamation League, Jewish
Council on Urban Affairs and the Catholic 8th Day Center for
Justice.
Click here to read The letter and signers
