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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Local Gay Rights Activists Arrested in Springfield |
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by Danielle Chynoweth
Email: danielle (nospam) onthejob.net (unverified!)
Phone: 344-8820
Address: IMC, 218 W. Main St. Urbana, IL 61801 |
09 May 2001
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Police arrested a number of protestors from the 85% Coalition who were in Springfield today insisting on the addition of sexual orientation to the Illinois Human Rights Act. |
Police arrested a number of protestors from the 85% Coalition who were in
Springfield today insisting on the addition of sexual orientation to the
Illinois Human Rights Act.
Those arrested include fifteen year old Sehvilla Mann who was standing off to the side of the demonstration, but was arrested because she was chanting with the demonstrators. Sehvilla is being held in custody while her parents, who live in Urbana, drive to Springfield.
Currently in the state of Illinois people who are or are suspected of being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT) can be denied employment, a hotel room, and other serivces on the basis of this suspicion.
The anti-discrimination bill (HB 101) passed the Illinois House earlier this year and needs to be passed in the Senate by the end of May or it will die.
The 85% Coalition decided to demonstrate in the capitol every Wednesday in May to pressure the senate to support this anti-discrimination bill.
The Illinois Human Rights Act protects against discrimination against any individual because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military status, or unfavorable discharge from military service in connection with employment, real estate transactions, access to financial credit, and the availability of public accommodations. Sexual orientation is currently not a criteria in the act.
The 85% Coalition is a grass roots organization which takes their name from the results of a statewide survey conducted in 1998 by the University of Illinois at Springfield. When asked, "Do you think there should or should not be equal rights for gay and lesbian people in terms of job
opportunities and housing" more than 85% of Illinois residents responded that yes, equal rights should extend to gays and lesbians.
See www.designingsociety.org/85coalition for more details about the 85% Coalition. |
See also:
www.designingsociety.org/85coalition
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