Former state Senator Rev. James Meeks has been nominated by Governor-elect Bruce Rauner to become Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education.
Meeks, who heads up the Salem Baptist Church on the Far South Side, has a long history of challenging goals sought by the LGBT community, so the Jan. 10 announcement was questioned by some LGBT-rights advocates.
In a statement, Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, said that the nomination "does not measure up to Rauner's election commitment of holding 'no social agenda' and is an insult."
Cherkasov added that the organization "stands committed to not only preventing backsliding on the significant accomplishments for LGBT Illinoisans achieved under Democratic and Republican administrations but continuing the struggle for full equality… Even as we've made progress elsewhere, we are fighting against pervasive bullying and youth suicide and for greater understanding of the needs of transgender teens, and to have Meeks at the helm of the institution that is guiding the education of our children is an insult."
Equality Illinois' political action committee arm throughout 2014 challenged Rauner on earlier statements that gay marriage should be decided by a referendum, not legislative action. Rauner nevertheless contended that he had no social agenda, and commercials to that effect over the course of that campaign.
Meeks was named by the Southern Poverty Law Center as one of the nation's foremost anti-gay clergy and they list his ties with organizations such as Focus on the Family and Alliance Defense Fund, as well as the Illinois Family Institute and Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. A 2006 haunted house sponsored by his church, for example, depicted young gay men trapped in hell.
In early 2013, when many pro- and anti-marriage equality activists believed that the Religious Freedom and Marriage Equality Act was headed for a vote in the Illinois House, Meeks was featured in robocalls placed to thousands of Black households in Cook County, urging residents to ask their legislators to oppose the measure, which ultimately became law later that year.
"Men should not be marrying men, and women should not be marrying women," Meeks told DNAInfo in March, 2013. "God does not support homosexuality, and neither do I."
Meeks, a proponent of charter schools and school vouchers, told Chicago Tribune Jan. 10 that education would be the focus of his work.
"The good news is you are the voice of the administration and not your own voice," he said. "It's not up to me to advocate what my personal or religious beliefs are. I'm sympathetic to improving the quality of education in the state of Illinois."
Anthony Martinez of The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) said that the nomination was "really disappointing news. I'm really disappointed that Governor-elect Rauner decided to appoint someone with such a record of support for anti-gay causes," adding that, "I have a lot of concern for the safety of LGBT youth in our schools with this announcement."
But Martinez said that TCRA would be "educating" lawmakers during the confirmation process about Meeks' record.
"They have a choice of whether or not to confirm him or not," he added. "They have to know that this is something they have to take seriously, especially when our schools are in such a fragile state."
Martinez's concern was echoed by Anthony Papini, executive director of Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, which advocates on behalf of LGBT students and educates school officials on LGBT-related issues.
"We're disappointed because this nomination represents a dangerous anti-LGBT view," said Papini. "Rauner is placing all students at risk and ignoring the significant anti-bullying and reforms on school pushout we've made. The Alliance will be seeking to educate our elected officials on educational justice and fighting to ensure Illinois schools remains safe learning environments for all youth."
"The Meeks appointment presents the Illinois Senate, which approves or rejects gubernatorial appointments, and the House with the obligation to ensure that his anti-LGBT social views do not creep into Illinois education policy and that Illinois remains on the path to full equality," Cherkasov said. "…We hold the door open for working together with the new Rauner administration but we will not hold back in defending our victories, asserting our intention to continue the fight for full recognition and protection of LGBT Illinoisans and to speak up and act boldly when our expectations are not met."
