Thank You
I just wanted to thank all of you who took the time to write or call your Senators or Representatives in support of SB 3186, the bill that would add sexual orientation to Illinois nondiscrimination ordinance. My Partner and I went down to the capitol in Springfield to do some last minute lobbying and watch the proceedings.
Monday was a long day. We got to the capitol around 11:00 and the official session started at 12:00 but when it became apparent we did not have the necessary votes, a recess was called, to give Senate President Emil Jones time to twist a few arms. I ran into Rick Garcia from Equality Illinois, who sent us back to speak to a few senators. We spoke to Deanna Demuzio and Dan Brady, both of whom said they would vote no on the measure due to pressure of the religious conservatives in their districts. After running into a few of our fellow college Democrats we also stop in at Sen. Rutherford's office, and were told he was going to vote Yes.
The afternoon wore on and when the Senate finally came back into session at 6:00 that evening we were still unsure of whether it would pass or not, so we listened on the edge of our seat to testimony being given by each of the Senators. The arguments on the red side of the isle were the usual disturbing tirades about peodophiles teaching kindergarten and male cross dressers using women's bath rooms. Senators also argued that the bill was the equivalent of gay marriage (he obviously hadn't read it). On the Blue side of things, several Senators gave speeches testifying to the need to all of Illinois citizens to be treated with dignity and fairness, and compared the measure to outlawing discrimination based on race.
When the time came to vote we kept out fingers crossed until the final count came up giving us exactly the number of votes we needed to win! A strange mixture of elation, relief, and exhaustion washed over us as we realized we had survived our first and biggest battle.
The next morning we got anther early start and reached the House of Representative chambers around 11:00. We knew the bill had passed the house several times before but couldn't help feel nervous. This was our last chance to get if through this year and if we got held up for any reason we'd be back to the drawing board, and with a much more conservative congress. We were shocked when after only half an hour in session they called up the bill. Everything happened faster. Speeches were giving from the opposing position where they compared being gay to having sex with children or animals, and warned that passing the bill would harm the moral fabric of Illinois. But then many more Senators gave truly inspired speeches about their own experiences with discrimination and used the words of Abe Lincoln, JFK, and Martin Luther King Jr. To call for freedom for all. The gallery which was packed, erupted in applause several times.
When the votes began to come in, we held hand and held our breath, until the tally of yeas passed 65, the number needed to win. At that point the galley was was filled with applause as we all sprung to our feet. I didn't see a dry eye around us it was announced that the measure had passed. We all stood for several minutes cheering, crying, and shouting thank you down to our representatives. As they turned around to face us up in the Balcony I noticed that many of them also had tears streaming down their faces, as the waved and blew us kisses, and thumbs up. History had been made, government had worked, and all of Illinois will be better for it for generations to come, and we all knew it.
The bill was signed by the Governor with a room full of activists, some of whom had been working with this piece of legislation for 30 years. All of you that helped make this happen were part of a 30 year march towards justice, one that started 8 years before I was born. The bill will take effect on June 1st, and we will be one big step closer to Liberty and Justice for all.
All my Love,
Rachild
Monday was a long day. We got to the capitol around 11:00 and the official session started at 12:00 but when it became apparent we did not have the necessary votes, a recess was called, to give Senate President Emil Jones time to twist a few arms. I ran into Rick Garcia from Equality Illinois, who sent us back to speak to a few senators. We spoke to Deanna Demuzio and Dan Brady, both of whom said they would vote no on the measure due to pressure of the religious conservatives in their districts. After running into a few of our fellow college Democrats we also stop in at Sen. Rutherford's office, and were told he was going to vote Yes.
The afternoon wore on and when the Senate finally came back into session at 6:00 that evening we were still unsure of whether it would pass or not, so we listened on the edge of our seat to testimony being given by each of the Senators. The arguments on the red side of the isle were the usual disturbing tirades about peodophiles teaching kindergarten and male cross dressers using women's bath rooms. Senators also argued that the bill was the equivalent of gay marriage (he obviously hadn't read it). On the Blue side of things, several Senators gave speeches testifying to the need to all of Illinois citizens to be treated with dignity and fairness, and compared the measure to outlawing discrimination based on race.
When the time came to vote we kept out fingers crossed until the final count came up giving us exactly the number of votes we needed to win! A strange mixture of elation, relief, and exhaustion washed over us as we realized we had survived our first and biggest battle.
The next morning we got anther early start and reached the House of Representative chambers around 11:00. We knew the bill had passed the house several times before but couldn't help feel nervous. This was our last chance to get if through this year and if we got held up for any reason we'd be back to the drawing board, and with a much more conservative congress. We were shocked when after only half an hour in session they called up the bill. Everything happened faster. Speeches were giving from the opposing position where they compared being gay to having sex with children or animals, and warned that passing the bill would harm the moral fabric of Illinois. But then many more Senators gave truly inspired speeches about their own experiences with discrimination and used the words of Abe Lincoln, JFK, and Martin Luther King Jr. To call for freedom for all. The gallery which was packed, erupted in applause several times.
When the votes began to come in, we held hand and held our breath, until the tally of yeas passed 65, the number needed to win. At that point the galley was was filled with applause as we all sprung to our feet. I didn't see a dry eye around us it was announced that the measure had passed. We all stood for several minutes cheering, crying, and shouting thank you down to our representatives. As they turned around to face us up in the Balcony I noticed that many of them also had tears streaming down their faces, as the waved and blew us kisses, and thumbs up. History had been made, government had worked, and all of Illinois will be better for it for generations to come, and we all knew it.
The bill was signed by the Governor with a room full of activists, some of whom had been working with this piece of legislation for 30 years. All of you that helped make this happen were part of a 30 year march towards justice, one that started 8 years before I was born. The bill will take effect on June 1st, and we will be one big step closer to Liberty and Justice for all.
All my Love,
Rachild
