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News :: Gender and Sexuality |
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Sing-In At Senator Winkel's Office In Support Of Queer Rights Bill Draws 20 |
Current rating: 0 |
by Kimberlie Kranich
Email: kranich (nospam) uiuc.edu (verified) |
29 Oct 2003
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Twenty local queer activists from the direct action group, the 85% Coalition, and their heterosexual allies held a sing-in at Senator Rick Winkel's Urbana Office Monday to protest his refusal to vote for Senate Bill 101 which would end legal discrimination against homosexuals and transgendered individuals in Illinois.
(see full story after the photos) |
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Carrying signs and banners, the activists sang queer-affirming lyrics in support of Senate Bill 101 to familiar tunes including The Battle Hymn of the Republic and Row, Row, Row Your Boat while they marched in a circle in front of Senator Rick Winkel's Urbana Office.
Senator Winkel was not at the office at the time nor were any of his staff.
Senator Winkel has consistently voted against a similar bill when he was a state representative and has vowed to do the same as a Senator, said 85% Coalition member Lori Serb. Singing is a beautiful way for us to let the Senator know that he can’t say he’s against discrimination and then over and over again vote against an anti-discrimination bill.
Senate Bill 101, known as the Human Rights Act, would amend the Illinois Human Rights Act - a state law - to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations.
A similar bill has consistently passed in the Illinois House since 1999. The Senate version was brought before the Senate Rules Committee last year but has failed to move on to the full Senate for a vote.
Twelve other states have already enacted legislation similar to that proposed in Illinois.
The activists' sing-in was featured on local TV station
WCIA.
The following is a transcript of that broadcast:
Under the banner Gay Rights, anchor Jennifer Roscoe said:
Residents in Champaign County are fighting for their civil rights and they are taking their fight out on a state Senator from Urbana. WCIA 3's Chris Coffey is in the newsroom to explain this. Chris?
Chris Coffey:
The activists say they want sexual orientation
anti-discrimination laws added to the Illinois Human Rights Act. It would make it illegal to fire someone for being gay.
Cut to Susie reciting her poem:
I don't agree with silence. Why should I
be ashamed? I need love. Have you hugged a lesbian today? (cheers from crowd)
Reporter voice-over over video of our banners and signs:
Impatient for Prejudice, Heterosexual Rights for Gay People and posters of Winkel and Tim Johnson in a prom-like photo with hearts with thecaption: Would you fire
these two men if they were gay?
Chris Coffey:
Gay rights activists say State Senator Rick Winkel
consistently votes against a bill that would give them more civil rights. Winkel's office was closed but that did not stop the activists.
Lori Serb sound bite:
We need civil rights and we should not be discriminated against for who we love or what our personal lives are. This is an insult.
Chris Coffey:
Lori Serb thinks that she lost her job in Champaign because
she's a lesbian.
Lori:
I know that I faced some discrimination. There are city ordinances to protect people from that, but because it is not a state law, it's not enforced. Lawyers are not going to fight for your rights on that.
Chris Coffey:
Champaign Attorney Bob Kirchner says Senate Bill 101 is
needed.
Atty. Kirchner:
There is no reason why someone's sexual orientation or
perceived sexual orientation should ever be a factor in employment decisions."
Video of Marya singing to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming out of queers...
Chris Coffey:
Meanwhile, gay activists say they'll sing to soften
Winkel's heart.
Tiger Swan sound bite:
It would be nice if they would set aside their
personal feelings and do their job and do what they are supposed to do and represent their district.
Chris Coffey:
Now, we contacted State Senator Rick Winkel's office
several times today. Neither he nor his staff had a comment about this story. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 101 is currently stalled in the General Assembly. It will be up to the Democrats who control both Houses to try and get it passed.
Help the 85% Coalition continue its peaceful protests.
Join us November 4 and November 20 in Springfield where we will sit in the Senate Gallery with our SB 101, Yes and Discrimination No t-shirts. Car pooling and t-shirts will be provided. Please email Meg (blue2 (at) net66.com) if you plan on attending.
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Comments
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Re: Sing-In At Senator Winkel's Office In Support Of Queer Rights Bill Draws 20 |
by Z. A. Abonn
ritri29tn (nospam) aol.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
29 Oct 2003
Modified: 04:43:05 PM |
Wow!
What can I say? Lovely pix, lovely crowd, and lovely speakers!
Let's keep on informing Rep. Winkel, until one day he sees the light.
Best wishes and good luck with the fight to secure SB 101!
In a democratic-free society we should not have to endure with such issues because one would think that we have dealt rightfully to end such discrimination many years ago. I guess, in some respect the more things change the more they stay the same, no?
Keep up the great work for gay rights and all the brothers and sisters who have suffered unfairly form discrimination.
Z. A . Abonn |
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Re: Sing-In At Senator Winkel's Office In Support Of Queer Rights Bill Draws 20 |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -1
29 Oct 2003
|
I am working hard to become better informed on issues that I have not known much about in the past. I appreciate the efforts and the courage I see in the photos. Let's all support senate bill 101. I have in the past been unable or unwilling to change my views, but gradually I am becoming more informed...keep up the good work of bringing awareness and education to us all!
Sincerely,
Jack Ryan |
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Gay Hate Crimes At Highest Level On Record FBI Says |
by Paul Johnson
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
29 Oct 2003
|
(Washington, D.C.) Crimes committed in 2002 due to bias against the victim's perceived sexual orientation represent 16.7 percent of reported hate crime incidents the FBI reported Tuesday. It is the highest level in the 12 years since the agency began collecting the statistics.
"This extremely disturbing rise in hate crimes against our community underscores the urgent need for passage of a comprehensive hate crimes law," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's political director.
"If the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act were to come up for a vote today, it would pass by an overwhelming margin in the U.S. Congress. It's past time to see that happen. We call on the House and Senate leadership to
bring this critical measure up for a vote."
Sexual orientation bias represents the third highest category of reported hate crimes. Racial bias continues to represent the largest percentage of bias-motivated incidents at 48.8 percent, followed by religious bias at 19.1 percent. Disability bias, at 0.6 percent, represents the lowest percentage, according to the report "Crime in the United States in 2002."
"Sadly, FBI statistics only offer a glimpse of the problem," said Stachelberg.
"In addition to the fact that reporting these crimes is voluntary for local law enforcement agencies, it's widely recognized that hate crimes often go unreported by victims due to fear and stigmatization."
The number of agencies participating in this report reached 12,073 - up from 2,771 in 1991, the year the FBI began collecting this data. However, only 1,868 agencies actually reported a single hate crime; the rest reported zero.
"It's obvious that serious participation in reporting these crimes under the Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1990 continues to remain a low priority for many jurisdictions," added Stachelberg. "Furthermore, important trends that need to be followed - such as bias crimes against our transgender community members - are not clearly tracked."
The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (S. 966) would amend the Hate Crimes Statistics Act, signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, to also include "gender" as a category. LLEEA would add real or perceived sexual orientation, gender and disability to federal hate crime laws, thus allowing the federal government greater leverage in providing assistance for the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.
LLEEA has strong bipartisan support and is endorsed by more than 175 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations, including: the National Sheriffs' Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and many others.
©365Gay.com® 2003
http://365gay.com/ |
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Re: Sing-In At Senator Winkel's Office In Support Of Queer Rights Bill Draws 20 |
by Z. A. ABONN
ritri29tr (nospam) aol.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
01 Nov 2003
|
THIS IS THE TEXT OF SB 101--THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT. LET'S SUPPORT THE 85% Coalition and its campaign to promote this bill so an end to discrimination and outright misanthropy can be actualized!
Z.A. Abonn
HERE IS THE TEXT OF THE BILL--
093_SB0101
LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 AN ACT concerning human rights.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by
5 changing Sections 1-102, 1-103, 3-103, and 3-106 and the
6 heading of Article 1 and adding Section 1-101.1 as follows:
7 (775 ILCS 5/Art. 1 heading)
8 ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS TITLE, POLICY AND DEFINITIONS
9 (775 ILCS 5/1-101.1 new)
10 Sec. 1-101.1. Construction. Nothing in this Act shall
11 be construed as requiring any employer, employment agency, or
12 labor organization to give preferential treatment or special
13 rights based on sexual orientation or to implement
14 affirmative action policies or programs based on sexual
15 orientation.
16 (775 ILCS 5/1-102) (from Ch. 68, par. 1-102)
17 Sec. 1-102. Declaration of Policy. It is the public
18 policy of this State:
19 (A) Freedom from Unlawful Discrimination. To secure for
20 all individuals within Illinois the freedom from
21 discrimination against any individual because of his or her
22 race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age,
23 marital status, physical or mental handicap, military status,
24 sexual orientation, or unfavorable discharge from military
25 service in connection with employment, real estate
26 transactions, access to financial credit, and the
27 availability of public accommodations.
28 (B) Freedom from Sexual Harassment-Employment and Higher
29 Education. To prevent sexual harassment in employment and
-2- LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 sexual harassment in higher education.
2 (C) Freedom from Discrimination Based on Citizenship
3 Status-Employment. To prevent discrimination based on
4 citizenship status in employment.
5 (D) Freedom from Discrimination Based on Familial
6 Status-Real Estate Transactions. To prevent discrimination
7 based on familial status in real estate transactions.
8 (E) Public Health, Welfare and Safety. To promote the
9 public health, welfare and safety by protecting the interest
10 of all people in Illinois in maintaining personal dignity, in
11 realizing their full productive capacities, and in furthering
12 their interests, rights and privileges as citizens of this
13 State.
14 (F) Implementation of Constitutional Guarantees. To
15 secure and guarantee the rights established by Sections 17,
16 18 and 19 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution of 1970.
17 (G) Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action. To establish
18 Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action as the policies of
19 this State in all of its decisions, programs and activities,
20 and to assure that all State departments, boards, commissions
21 and instrumentalities rigorously take affirmative action to
22 provide equality of opportunity and eliminate the effects of
23 past discrimination in the internal affairs of State
24 government and in their relations with the public.
25 (H) Unfounded Charges. To protect citizens of this State
26 against unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination, sexual
27 harassment in employment and sexual harassment in higher
28 education, and discrimination based on citizenship status in
29 employment.
30 (Source: P.A. 87-579; 88-178.)
31 (775 ILCS 5/1-103) (from Ch. 68, par. 1-103)
32 Sec. 1-103. General Definitions. When used in this Act,
33 unless the context requires otherwise, the term:
-3- LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 (A) Age. "Age" means the chronological age of a person
2 who is at least 40 years old, except with regard to any
3 practice described in Section 2-102, insofar as that practice
4 concerns training or apprenticeship programs. In the case of
5 training or apprenticeship programs, for the purposes of
6 Section 2-102, "age" means the chronological age of a person
7 who is 18 but not yet 40 years old.
8 (B) Aggrieved Party. "Aggrieved party" means a person
9 who is alleged or proved to have been injured by a civil
10 rights violation or believes he or she will be injured by a
11 civil rights violation under Article 3 that is about to
12 occur.
13 (C) Charge. "Charge" means an allegation filed with the
14 Department by an aggrieved party or initiated by the
15 Department under its authority.
16 (D) Civil Rights Violation. "Civil rights violation"
17 includes and shall be limited to only those specific acts set
18 forth in Sections 2-102, 2-103, 2-105, 3-102, 3-103, 3-104,
19 3-104.1, 3-105, 4-102, 4-103, 5-102, 5A-102 and 6-101 of this
20 Act.
21 (E) Commission. "Commission" means the Human Rights
22 Commission created by this Act.
23 (F) Complaint. "Complaint" means the formal pleading
24 filed by the Department with the Commission following an
25 investigation and finding of substantial evidence of a civil
26 rights violation.
27 (G) Complainant. "Complainant" means a person including
28 the Department who files a charge of civil rights violation
29 with the Department or the Commission.
30 (H) Department. "Department" means the Department of
31 Human Rights created by this Act.
32 (I) Handicap. "Handicap" means a determinable physical
33 or mental characteristic of a person, including, but not
34 limited to, a determinable physical characteristic which
-4- LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 necessitates the person's use of a guide, hearing or support
2 dog, the history of such characteristic, or the perception of
3 such characteristic by the person complained against, which
4 may result from disease, injury, congenital condition of
5 birth or functional disorder and which characteristic:
6 (1) For purposes of Article 2 is unrelated to the
7 person's ability to perform the duties of a particular
8 job or position and, pursuant to Section 2-104 of this
9 Act, a person's illegal use of drugs or alcohol is not a
10 handicap;
11 (2) For purposes of Article 3, is unrelated to the
12 person's ability to acquire, rent or maintain a housing
13 accommodation;
14 (3) For purposes of Article 4, is unrelated to a
15 person's ability to repay;
16 (4) For purposes of Article 5, is unrelated to a
17 person's ability to utilize and benefit from a place of
18 public accommodation.
19 (J) Marital Status. "Marital status" means the legal
20 status of being married, single, separated, divorced or
21 widowed.
22 (J-1) Military Status. "Military status" means a
23 person's status on active duty in the armed forces of the
24 United States.
25 (K) National Origin. "National origin" means the place
26 in which a person or one of his or her ancestors was born.
27 (L) Person. "Person" includes one or more individuals,
28 partnerships, associations or organizations, labor
29 organizations, labor unions, joint apprenticeship committees,
30 or union labor associations, corporations, the State of
31 Illinois and its instrumentalities, political subdivisions,
32 units of local government, legal representatives, trustees in
33 bankruptcy or receivers.
34 (M) Public Contract. "Public contract" includes every
-5- LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 contract to which the State, any of its political
2 subdivisions or any municipal corporation is a party.
3 (N) Religion. "Religion" includes all aspects of
4 religious observance and practice, as well as belief, except
5 that with respect to employers, for the purposes of Article
6 2, "religion" has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (F)
7 of Section 2-101.
8 (O) Sex. "Sex" means the status of being male or female.
9 (O-1) Sexual orientation. "Sexual orientation" means
10 having or being perceived as having an emotional, physical,
11 or sexual attraction to another person without regard to the
12 sex of that person or having or being perceived as having an
13 orientation for such attraction, or having or being perceived
14 as having a gender-related self-identity, appearance,
15 expression, or behavior, whether or not traditionally
16 associated with the person's designated sex at birth.
17 (P) Unfavorable Military Discharge. "Unfavorable
18 military discharge" includes discharges from the Armed Forces
19 of the United States, their Reserve components or any
20 National Guard or Naval Militia which are classified as RE-3
21 or the equivalent thereof, but does not include those
22 characterized as RE-4 or "Dishonorable".
23 (Q) Unlawful Discrimination. "Unlawful discrimination"
24 means discrimination against a person because of his or her
25 race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex,
26 marital status, handicap, military status, sexual
27 orientation, or unfavorable discharge from military service
28 as those terms are defined in this Section.
29 (Source: P.A. 88-178; 88-180; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)
30 (775 ILCS 5/3-103) (from Ch. 68, par. 3-103)
31 Sec. 3-103. Blockbusting.) It is a civil rights
32 violation for any person to:
33 (A) Solicitation. Solicit for sale, lease, listing or
-6- LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 purchase any residential real estate within this State, on
2 the grounds of loss of value due to the present or
3 prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved
4 of any person or persons of any particular race, color,
5 religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual
6 orientation, marital status, familial status or handicap.
7 (B) Statements. Distribute or cause to be distributed,
8 written material or statements designed to induce any owner
9 of residential real estate in this State to sell or lease his
10 or her property because of any present or prospective changes
11 in the race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age,
12 sex, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status or
13 handicap of residents in the vicinity of the property
14 involved.
15 (C) Creating Alarm. Intentionally create alarm, among
16 residents of any community, by transmitting communications in
17 any manner, including a telephone call whether or not
18 conversation thereby ensues, with a design to induce any
19 owner of residential real estate in this state to sell or
20 lease his or her property because of any present or
21 prospective entry into the vicinity of the property involved
22 of any person or persons of any particular race, color,
23 religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual
24 orientation, marital status, familial status or handicap.
25 (Source: P.A. 86-910.)
26 (775 ILCS 5/3-106) (from Ch. 68, par. 3-106)
27 Sec. 3-106. Exemptions.) Nothing contained in Section
28 3-102 shall prohibit:
29 (A) Private Sales of Single Family Homes. Any sale of a
30 single family home by its owner so long as the following
31 criteria are met:
32 (1) The owner does not own or have a beneficial
33 interest in more than three single family homes at the
-7- LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 time of the sale;
2 (2) The owner or a member of his or her family was
3 the last current resident of the home;
4 (3) The home is sold without the use in any manner
5 of the sales or rental facilities or services of any real
6 estate broker or salesman, or of any employee or agent of
7 any real estate broker or salesman;
8 (4) The home is sold without the publication,
9 posting or mailing, after notice, of any advertisement or
10 written notice in violation of paragraph (F) of Section
11 3-102.
12 (B) Apartments. Rental of a housing accommodation in a
13 building which contains housing accommodations for not more
14 than five families living independently of each other, if the
15 lessor or a member of his or her family resides in one of the
16 housing accommodations;
17 (C) Private Rooms. Rental of a room or rooms in a
18 private home by an owner if he or she or a member of his or
19 her family resides therein or, while absent for a period of
20 not more than twelve months, if he or she or a member of his
21 or her family intends to return to reside therein;
22 (D) Reasonable local, State, or Federal restrictions
23 regarding the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy
24 a dwelling.
25 (E) Religious Organizations. A religious organization,
26 association, or society, or any nonprofit institution or
27 organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in
28 conjunction with a religious organization, association, or
29 society, from limiting the sale, rental or occupancy of a
30 dwelling which it owns or operates for other than a
31 commercial purpose to persons of the same religion, or from
32 giving preference to such persons, unless membership in such
33 religion is restricted on account of race, color, or national
34 origin.
-8- LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 (F) Sex. Restricting the rental of rooms in a housing
2 accommodation to persons of one sex.
3 (G) Persons Convicted of Drug-Related Offenses. Conduct
4 against a person because such person has been convicted by
5 any court of competent jurisdiction of the illegal
6 manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance as
7 defined in Section 102 of the federal Controlled Substances
8 Act (21 U.S.C. 802).
9 (H) Persons engaged in the business of furnishing
10 appraisals of real property from taking into consideration
11 factors other than those based on unlawful discrimination or
12 familial status in furnishing appraisals.
13 (H-1) The owner of an owner-occupied residential
14 building with 5 or fewer units (including the unit in which
15 the owner resides) from making decisions regarding whether to
16 rent to a person based upon that person's sexual orientation.
17 (I) Housing for Older Persons. No provision in this
18 Article regarding familial status shall apply with respect to
19 housing for older persons.
20 (1) As used in this Section, "housing for older
21 persons" means housing:
22 (a) provided under any State or Federal
23 program that the Department determines is
24 specifically designed and operated to assist elderly
25 persons (as defined in the State or Federal
26 program); or
27 (b) intended for, and solely occupied by,
28 persons 62 years of age or older; or
29 (c) intended and operated for occupancy by
30 persons 55 years of age or older and:
31 (i) at least 80% of the occupied units
32 are occupied by at least one person who is 55
33 years of age or older;
34 (ii) the housing facility or community
-9- LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 publishes and adheres to policies and
2 procedures that demonstrate the intent required
3 under this subdivision (c); and
4 (iii) the housing facility or community
5 complies with rules adopted by the Department
6 for verification of occupancy, which shall:
7 (aa) provide for verification by
8 reliable surveys and affidavits; and
9 (bb) include examples of the types
10 of policies and procedures relevant to a
11 determination of compliance with the
12 requirement of clause (ii).
13 These surveys and affidavits shall be admissible in
14 administrative and judicial proceedings for the purposes of
15 such verification.
16 (2) Housing shall not fail to meet the requirements
17 for housing for older persons by reason of:
18 (a) persons residing in such housing as of the
19 effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989 who do
20 not meet the age requirements of subsections (1)(b)
21 or (c); provided, that new occupants of such housing
22 meet the age requirements of subsections (1)(b) or
23 (c) of this subsection; or
24 (b) unoccupied units; provided, that such
25 units are reserved for occupancy by persons who meet
26 the age requirements of subsections (1)(b) or (c) of
27 this subsection.
28 (3) (a) A person shall not be held personally
29 liable for monetary damages for a violation of this
30 Article if the person reasonably relied, in good
31 faith, on the application of the exemption under
32 this subsection (I) relating to housing for older
33 persons.
34 (b) For the purposes of this item (3), a
-10- LRB093 04011 WGH 04050 b
1 person may show good faith reliance on the
2 application of the exemption only by showing that:
3 (i) the person has no actual knowledge
4 that the facility or community is not, or will
5 not be, eligible for the exemption; and
6 (ii) the facility or community has stated
7 formally, in writing, that the facility or
8 community complies with the requirements for
9 the exemption.
10 (Source: P.A. 89-520, eff. 7-18-96.)
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Re: Sing-In At Senator Winkel's Office In Support Of Queer Rights Bill Draws 20 |
by Z. A Abonn
ritri29tr (nospam) aol.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
03 Nov 2003
|
Atty. Kirchner said
There is no reason why someone's sexual orientation or
perceived sexual orientation should ever be a factor in employment decisions."
Speaking of employment, let me take you all back to WWII for a little history journey. Allan Turing a brilliant British mathematician, credited with the invention of the first modern computer, was the chief architect of the British effort to break the Nazi codes and to help the British and the allies win the war. After the war was over he confessed to the public that he was gay. He was percecuted beyond belief, and he was driven into insanity. Why, why, must we still continue to endure such shameful acts directed at other human beings who simply want to be different?
Let's all push hard to have this bill passed and to convince Rep. Winkel to see the depths of his ill-perceptions and to change his stance and vote for the Queer Rights Bill.
Z. A. Abonn
ritri29tr (at) aol.com |
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Re: Sing-In At Senator Winkel's Office In Support Of Queer Rights Bill Draws 20 |
by Illinois Citizen
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 3
21 Dec 2003
|
Hello Jack Ryan,
If you are the same Jack Ryan who is the Illinois Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate, then why are you such a hateful, homophobic and mysogynistic man? What made you this way and why do you choose to take it out on people this way?
Why would anyone vote for such a pathetic and hateful man? Any person, conservative republican or centrist democrat, would have more basic human decency than you have displayed.
How can you hope to be elected? |
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