Posted: April 12, 2003

Illinois Gay Rights Bill Stalls

Chicago--Hopes that a Democratic controlled Senate would pass civil rights protections for gays and lesbians are dissipating.

Legislation to add "sexual orientation" to the state's anti- discrimination law has several times over the past few years passed the Democratic controlled House but continually died in the Republican controlled Senate

Now that Democrats control the Senate, too, it was generally believed the measure was guaranteed passage.

But the original April 9 deadline for holding a vote came and went without action.

The sponsor, Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago) has gotten an extension, hoping to find more support but Senators seem fearful of a voter backlash.

Sen. Patrick Welch, D-LaSalle, said many lawmakers fear a "yes" vote would be used against them in their next campaign.

"The issue would be the paramount issue in the race -- not the budget, not education," said Welch. "For many downstate senators, I think ... basically it leaves them with the opinion that this is a bill that they can't support."

Sen. Louis Viverito, D-Burbank, said as much as he would personally like to vote for the measure, his constituents would disagree.

"I wouldn't be doing the right thing on the part of my constituents," Viverito said. "They are concerned about the way it's written and the way it's suggested."

Equality Illinois, the largest LGBT rights group in the state said it will use the extension to lobby key Democrats.

"We don't see this as a setback at all," said Rick Garcia, the executive director of Equality Illinois. "This is the first time the bill has come up in the Senate. These senators need education on this bill."

Garcia points to a 1999 poll in which 85 percent of state residents said gays and lesbians should have equal housing and employment rights.