Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 17:57:39 -0600
From: ACTION ALERT Moderator 
Subject: ACTION ALERT: Illinois Civil Rights Bill

[ submitted by Illinois Federation for Human Rights, IFHR 

  Moderator Note: Illinois legislators can be found at:

  http://www.state.il.us/legis/house.htm and
  http://www.state.il.us/legis/senate.htm

  Tell your state representative to SUPPORT House Bill 3636 ]

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                   Contact:        Rick Garcia
March 17, 1998                                          773-244-3371
GAY RIGHTS BILL PASSES ILLINOIS HOUSE COMMITTEE

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – A gay rights bill easily passed the Illinois
House Human Services Committee by a vote of eight to two on Thursday,
March 19.  The bill would amend the Illinois Human Rights Act to make
illegal any discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations
and credit transactions on the basis of sexual orientation.  Introduced
February 17 by Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago) with 36 co-sponsors, the
bill now moves to the full Illinois House of Representatives for a vote.

"This bill enjoys unprecedented support, nonetheless, we still have an
uphill battle to overcome the anti-gay zealots who wish to deny sexual
minorities our basic civil rights," said Rick Garcia, director of the
Illinois Federation For Human Rights.  "This vote is encouraging but we
still have to pass the full House and Senate."

Twenty-seven proponents signed in before the committee to support the
bill and only three opponents registered opposition.  Among supporters
were Chicago Catholic Women,  Illinois Federation of Teachers, Chicago
Bar Association, the Illinois Human Rights Department, Illinois State
Bar Association, United Food & Commercial Workers, the ACLU, and NOW.

Giving oral testimony at the hearing was Kelly Cassidy, a lesbian who
experienced housing discrimination in DuPage County.

"It is critical that supporters of this bill visit, call and write their
representatives," said Lana Hostetler, the Federation’s lobbyist.  "This
bill has a good chance of passing, but everyone must call his or her
representatives."

#30#

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