A message
from Bernard Cherkasov, Chief Executive Officer, Equality Illinois
CHICAGO, November 4, 2009
Last Tuesday was a bittersweet day in the movement for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Our community won the referenda on employment nondiscrimination in Kalamazoo, Mich. and on domestic partnerships in the State of Washington, but suffered a difficult loss on marriage equality in Maine. For us, in Illinois, the lessons of the Election Day serve as an urgent call to action.
We are proud of the work of our colleagues in Maine, Washington, and Kalamazoo. They ran smart, well-organized campaigns to beat back the angry fear-mongers and their misleading crusades against equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
The campaigns were costly and difficult, but they drew neighbors, family members, and colleagues into conversation about respecting the dignity of every person and every family. In Kalamazoo, hundreds of volunteers fanned out to speak with neighbors and business owners about necessary protections provided by the nondiscrimination law. People throughout Maine and Washington, saw TV ads, watched debates, witnessed major newspapers support equality. Major employers and small businesses, religious and secular leaders spoke out against the hardships facing lesbian and gay individuals and families. Organizations that care for the elderly and for children, educators, and clergy - all focused why these laws are needed.
Despite the loss in Maine, we know this much is true:
There has been a tidal shift in understanding of the importance of
equal rights for LGBT Americans.
These knee-jerk referenda on LGBT equality are no longer a guaranteed
win for their homophobic organizers.
The more discussions we have the more attitudes we change.
Make no mistake - the anti-gay activists aren’t giving
up. In Illinois, they are
organizing push groups to target schools board, libraries, and lawmakers
with their messages of fear and hate.
And we cannot afford to be complacent, either.
We must now commit more resources and work harder to achieve full
equality in Illinois and on the federal level.
We, at Equality Illinois, are energized to continue
advancing full equality. We are
working with our allies, building bridges with communities of faith, helping
schools and businesses become friendlier for LGBTs, and fighting daily
against the voices of anger and hate.
We cannot do our work without you.
To help us succeed, please support our efforts with a
contribution, and please contact us to learn how
you can volunteer, register to vote, speak to
your neighbors and legislators, and spread the word to your family and
friends.
I look forward to seeing your name on our rolls.
Yours,
Bernard Cherkasov
Chief Executive Officer
