CHICAGO - Equality Illinois, the state's civil rights organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Illinoisans, today announced endorsements of a record number of LGBTQ candidates for seats in the Illinois General Assembly.
"Equality Illinois is excited to announce our endorsements today for candidates running for the Illinois General Assembly because their voices can make our state fairer and more just for LGBTQ people and increase LGBTQ representation in elected office," said Justin DeJong, Board Chair of Equality Illinois, a 501( c )( 4 ) organization. "In recent years, Illinois has been a beacon of equality and inclusion but we have so much more work to do. These endorsed candidates will advance our progress as we keep fighting for equality and inclusion for all LGBTQ Illinoisans."
Equality Illinois endorsed 59 candidates for the Illinois General Assembly, including 13 out LGBTQ candidates.
"As an organization that promotes representation in roles of public leadership, we are excited to see so many openly LGBTQ people lending their talents and perspectives to public service," said Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois. "Representation at tables of power matters when it comes to passing inclusive policies and for changing hearts and minds by sharing our stories. We particularly highlight and are thankful for our openly LGBTQ state representatives: House Majority Leader Greg Harris, State Reps. Kelly Cassidy, Sam Yingling, Lamont Robinson, and Yoni Pizer."
LGBTQ candidates endorsed today are State Rep. Lamont Robinson ( HD 5 ), Ty Cratic ( HD 9 ), State Rep. Yoni Pizer ( HD 12 ), Illinois House Majority Leader Greg Harris ( HD 13 ), State Rep. Kelly Cassidy ( HD 14 ), Michelle Darbro ( HD 20 ), Denika McMillen ( HD 41 ), Ken Mejia-Beal ( HD 42 ), Maggie Trevor ( HD 54 ), State Rep. Sam Yingling ( HD 62 ), Brian Sager ( HD 63 ), Karla Bailey-Smith ( HD 88 ), and Emiliano Vera ( HD 93 ).
Of the 59 endorsed candidates, Equality Illinois is supporting 41 incumbent state legislators.
"We especially thank our legislative incumbents for advancing justice for LGBTQ people in 2019," said Johnson. "Last year, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Inclusive Curriculum Law, which ensures the stories of LGBTQ people will be included in history taught in public schools across Illinois. LGBTQ youth will now see themselves in the history of Illinois and America, and curriculum will continue to convey that a diverse group of people have contributed to society."
Legislators also supported key bills to ensure single-occupancy restrooms are designated as gender neutral, to affirm LGBTQ elders and older adults living with HIV, to prohibit discrimination in jury service, and to allow for individuals to select a non-binary designation on state driver's licenses.
Equality Illinois, a 501( c )( 4 ) organization, engages in the advocacy and electoral processes to defend and advance full equality, justice, and fairness for LGBTQ individuals and their families in Illinois.
Endorsements are based on responses on candidate questionnaires and voting records. Here is the full list of Equality Illinois' endorsements for the March 17, 2020 primary election:
Cook County State's Attorney
Kim Foxx
Illinois House of Representatives
HD 1 — Aaron Ortiz ( i )
HD 2 — Theresa Mah ( i )
HD 5 — Lamont J. Robinson ( i )
HD 9 — Ty Cratic
HD 10 — Jawaharial Omar Williams ( i )
HD 11 — Ann Williams ( i )
HD 12 — Yoni Pizer ( i )
HD 13 — Greg Harris ( i )
HD 14 — Kelly Cassidy ( i )
HD 16 — Yehiel "Mark" Kalish ( i )
HD 17 — Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz ( i )
HD 18 — Robyn Gabel ( i )
HD 19 — Lindsey LaPointe ( i )
HD 20 — Michelle Darbro
HD 22 — Michael J. Madigan ( i )
HD 32 — Andre Thapedi ( i )
HD 36 — Kelly Burke ( i )
HD 37 — Michelle Fadeley
HD 39 — Will Guzzardi ( i )
HD 40 — Jaime Andrade ( i )
HD 41 — Denika McMillen
HD 42 — Ken Mejia-Beal
HD 43 — Anna Moeller ( i )
HD 45 — Diane Pappas ( i )
HD 48 — Terra Costa Howard ( i )
HD 49 — Maura Hirschauer
HD 51 — Mary Edly-Allen ( i )
HD 54 — Maggie Trevor
HD 57 — Jonathan Carroll ( i )
HD 58 — Bob Morgan ( i )
HD 59 — Daniel Didech ( i )
HD 60 — Rita Mayfield ( i )
HD 62 — Sam Yingling ( i )
HD 63 — Brian Sager
HD 65 — Martha Paschke
HD 67 — Maurice West ( i )
HD 68 — Dave Vella
HD 71 — Joan Padilla
HD 72 — Mike Halpin ( i )
HD 83 — Barbara Hernandez ( i )
HD 84 — Stephanie Kifowit ( i )
HD 88 — Karla Bailey-Smith
HD 90 — Seth Wiggins
HD 91 — Josh Grys
HD 93 — Emiliano Vera
HD 104 — Cynthia Cunningham
HD 112 — Katie Stuart ( i )
HD 113 — Jay Hoffman ( i )
Illinois Senate
SD 1 - Antonio Munoz ( i )
SD 4 - Kimberly Lightford ( i )
SD 7 - Heather Steans ( i )
SD 10 — Rob Martwick ( i )
SD 11 — Celina Villanueva ( i )
SD 13 — Robert Peters ( i )
SD 22 — Cristina Castro ( i )
SD 25 — Karina Villa
SD 40 — Patrick Joyce ( i )
SD 43 — John Connor
SD 46 — Dave Koehler ( i )
About Equality Illinois
At Equality Illinois we envision a fair and unified Illinois where everyone is treated equally with dignity and respect and where all people live freely regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. We work hard to promote legislation to protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning ( LGBTQ ) individuals; maintain the visibility of LGBTQ issues; oppose legislation which seeks to limit the civil rights of the LGBTQ community; and expand statewide grassroots support.
—From a press release
