With changes in Chicago's state assembly districts likely to come, some activists are concerned boundary shifts following the 2010 U.S. Census may affect the future of Illinois' three openly gay legislators as well as same-sex marriage equality in the state.
Statewide legislative redistricting takes place every 10 years, following the U.S. Census. Chicago's population decreased by 7 percent—or about 200,000 residents—over the last decade, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, while the city's southern and western suburbs have grown considerably. That means when the state redraws its legislative districts in the coming months, the city of Chicago will likely hold fewer seats and its suburbs will gain representatives as districts shift.
"There've been dramatic population shifts," said Greg Harris, who represents Illinois' 13th district in the General Assembly. "There's been some discussion about whether population really declined or whether that was really just an undercount. Be that as it may—without a doubt—boundaries of districts are going to shift."
Some of these shifts will likely occur in Chicago's lakefront districts, which are home to Illinois' three openly gay legislators—Harris, Deb Mell ( 40th ) and Kelly Cassidy ( 14th ) . In Harris' and Cassidy's districts, for example, population has decreased by as much as 13 percent in some areas due to gentrification. The district boundaries will need to push westward and in Cassidy's case northward to remain equitable with other districts in the state.
Some believe such a shift could create a reelection challenge for the incumbent Democrats, but longtime LGBT activist Rick Garcia does not think the legislators will have a problem. "Maybe I'm too optimistic," he said, "but I think Deb, Greg and Kelly are going to be pretty safe. I don't think the powers-that-be in Springfield want to lose three Democratic seats that are pretty solid."
Maps are still being drawn in the Illinois House, and preliminary versions are expected to be released later this month. A bipartisan House Redistricting Committee oversees the process, which must be completed by June 30 to avoid forming a special oversight commission.
Race is a key issue in determining how district lines will fall. Illinois law requires ethnic groups such as Asians, Latinos and African Americans to be placed together whenever possible, creating gerrymandered districts meant to address the needs of each ethnic community while consolidating political power. Detailed census data is used to determine where these communities live.
Since queer individuals were not measured in the 2010 census, and American Community Survey data suggests that LGBT citizens live in every county and district of the state, it is logistically impossible to create a predominantly LGBT district. "We can't use the data that's used by every other minority community," said Anthony Martinez, executive director of the Civil Rights Agenda ( TCRA ) , a statewide advocacy group.
In the absence of an LGBT-specific district, TCRA has been working to ensure the queer community is visible during the redistricting process. The group attended three public hearings and distributed literature highlighting where same-sex couples live in Illinois. "We are everywhere," Martinez said. "We're in every major urban center. We're in every county in the state."
The goal, Martinez said, is to educate the House Redistricting Committee and illustrate what a viable voting bloc the LGBT community can be. As marriage equality legislation is brought to the House floor in coming years, it will be essential that all legislators—not just those who identify as gay—understand its significance, several activists said.
"It's convenient to say 'Call Greg Harris or Deb Mell,'" Harris said. "But we've got to get people used to working with their local legislators so they understand in their neighborhood, their town, there are lesbian and gay families. There are voices that need to be heard."
Still, many stress the importance of being represented by openly gay legislators. "If people work with a lesbian or sit next to a lesbian or are around gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender people every single day," Martinez said, "as a legislator, they're no longer able to say 'that community' or put us in a box that's over there somewhere… We need to maintain that and protect that. Those gains are hard won and hard fought."
Garcia cited Deb Mell's 2010 engagement announcement on the House floor as an example of the type of political progress that would only be possible through LGBT representatives. Mell told the House she had proposed to her partner Christin Baker, but was saddened that the couple would have to marry in Iowa. Republicans and Democrats alike stood with Mell and offered support.
"I do not think that if we didn't have a lesbian woman stand and tell her story that there would've been the response that came," Garcia said.
While none of Illinois' three openly gay legislators sit on the redistricting committee, each votes on the final map before it can be enacted. "You don't have clarity until you see the map," said Kelly Cassidy, who represents the 14th district. "But I will be one of the people voting, and I'll work towards a map that includes the progressive voice."
Image: Illinois LGBT population density
