A state House committee voted 7-1 to repeal an Illinois law that requires students report their HIV/AIDS status to school principals.
The Illinois House Human Services Committee approved legislation that would repeal the state mandate. The mandate, approved by 1987, requires that local health departments report a child's HIV status to the school principal.
Only five states in the nation—Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Nevada—require the disclosure of a student's status to a school official.
The repeal effort is backed by The Children's Place Association. The chief sponsor of the repeal legislation is Rep. Sara Feigenholtz. Proponents of a repeal feel that the mandate creates barriers for youth to get tested.
Crossroads to present
Ron Sable award
Crossroads Fund will present the Ron Sable Award for Activism at its annual Seeds of Change benefit.
The award goes to Dr. Cathy J. Cohen, professor of political science and principal investigator of University of Chicago's Black Youth Project at the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, and the Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization, Inc. ( MAGIC ) .
Ron Sable was a donor and activist who worked on behalf of LGBT rights, women's liberation and more. He co-founded AIDS Foundation of Chicago and was a Crossroads Fund board member.
The benefit will take place Feb. 29 at the Chicago Cultural Center's GAR Hall, 77 E. Randolph. Tickets are $30-$75. The general reception starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 7:30 award presentation. See www.crossroadsfund.org .