Sexual orientation protected by state
New bill, signed by governor, prevents discrimination based on sexual orientation
David Fitzgerald
Issue date: 2/4/05 Section: News
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Senate Bill 3186, a piece of legislation adding sexual orientation to Illinois' Human Rights Act, was signed Jan. 21 by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, illegalizing discrimination against gays in matters of housing, employment, public accommodations and credit.
When the law goes into effect June 1, sexual orientation will be added to the list of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (with regard to employment), age 40 and over, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military service or unfavorable military discharge, which are included in the Illinois Human Rights Act.
The act prohibits discrimination in connection with employment opportunities, real estate transactions, access to financial credit, and the availability of public services and public accommodations. It also provides protection from sexual harassment in employment, sexual harassment of students in higher education, and retaliation for having filed a discrimination charge, according to the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
The bill was first introduced in 1974 and reintroduced several times since, said Rick Garcia, executive director of the gay rights organization, Equality Illinois.
While opponents of the legislation claim it was unneeded, Garcia offered the example of a lesbian couple from Wheaton who contacted him when they were facing discrimination. When the couple's landlord discovered they were gay, the couple was asked to leave their apartment although they had never missed a rent payment. The couple ran into problems when getting a new home because their old landlord would tell prospective new landlords they were gay.
"And all of it was perfectly legal," Garcia said.
Bill Thompson, chairman of the University Committee on Sexual Orientation at Western Illinois University, said the new law will not have too much of an effect on the university.
About a year and a half ago Western added sexual orientation to its institutional non-discrimination policy.
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