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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Gay rights supporters hang a banner and sing to a stunned Senate. |
Current rating: 0 |
by Danielle Chynoweth
(No verified email address) |
09 May 2002
Modified: 04:12:13 PM |
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Gay rights supporters hung a banner from the gallery of the Illinois State Senate this morning, then stood and sang before a silent and stunned audience. |
Gay rights supporters hung a banner from the gallery of the Illinois State Senate this morning, then stood and sang before a silent and stunned audience. “Pate stop discrimination, pass HB 101” was neatly printed on a large banner, which hung from the balcony above the Senate floor. Sixteen supporters sat silently wearing t-shirts that said “Discrimination NO!” and “HB 101 YES.” Today was the last day the Senate could have heard HB 101, which would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the Illinois Human Rights Act. This act prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, and credit. After a 25-year campaign to pass this civil rights bill, supporters finally saw the Illinois House approve it last March. Since then, it has stalled in the Senate. Pate Phillip, President of the Senate, opposes this bill and wields great power over other Republican senators, who appear to be waiting for his sanction. The demonstrators sang lyrics to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The senators looked back and forth between the singers and Pate Phillip. Although they were asked to stop by both the Senate Chair and the Sergeant at Arms, they persisted singing: “Glory, glory hallelujah, equal rights are comin’ to ya, it’s time to stop the hate, let us not discriminate, gay rights in Illinois!” After being threatened with arrest, the singers joined their supporters outside the Senate. A year ago today, the same demonstrators who hung the banner today were arrested after disrupting a Senate Executive Committee hearing that failed to move HB 101 to the full Senate. Last year, Kimberlie Kranich, Mary Lee Sargent, Marya Burke, Lori Serb, and Meg Miner were all charged and later acquitted of criminal trespass to state supported land.
For interviews, contact Kimberlie Kranich (217.359.9884) or Mary Lee Sargent (217.352.6110) |
