Equality Illinois FY2014 Annual Report by Equality Illinois

FY 20I4 EQUALITY ILLINOIS

annual

Report

The Mission

Equality Illinois builds a better Illinois by advancing equal treatment and social justice through education, advocacy and protection of the rights of the LGBT community.

Equality illinois Staff

(As of September 1, 2014) Bernard Cherkasov Chief Executive Officer Angelo Barone Director of Finance & Adminsitration Patty Dillon Director of Field Operations Michael Nordman Director of Development Mitchell Locin Communications Liaison Chris Huaracha Operations Manager

Board of Directors (As of September 1, 2014) Anthony Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Amato Chair, Equality Illinois Education Project Grant Gochnauer Chair, Equality Illinois David Ernesto Munar Vice Chair, Equality Illinois Education Project Christopher Pett Vice Chair, Equality Illinois Editha Paras Treasurer Clay Tillack Secretary Yvette Chavez* Joan Ducayet Kevin Hauswirth Stephen Herseth* Michael Jefvert Arthur L. Johnston* Christina Kahrl* John Parro Matt Pruyn Catherine Sikora* Mike Simmons Elizabeth Winke *Emeritus

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Letter from the CEO What a year weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had together. Certainly, it was a year of momentous challenges and historic accomplishments. But above all, it was a year that demonstrated that together, our strength is much greater than the sum of our individual abilities. We built a coalition that brought together national civil rights organizations and labor unions, scores of corporate executives of global companies and hundreds of clergy members from all across the state. And most importantly, we amplified the voices of regular Illinoisans in every county of the state who just wanted the Land of Lincoln to do the right thing and recognize marriages of gay and lesbian couples. This was also a year not to rest on our laurels. So - thanks to your support - we convened leaders and activists from ten states to the Midwest Leadership summit to assess opportunities and develop strategies to advance equal treatment for LGBT individuals in the heartland for the fourth time. We hosted the first ever Equality Institute to engage, educate, and empower our supporters. And we engaged in the general elections with every resource available to us, determined that no lawmaker would lose her or his seat because of support for our equality and that no punch thrown at our community would go unanswered. You know this well: Changing laws is just laying the foundation for securing equal treatment. Not everyone is ready to accept that LGBT individuals and their families deserve equal dignity and respect. And if we are not vigilant, then we are vulnerable. But with your support, we are ready and able to continue to meet every challenge and keep moving forward. Thank you for all that you do. Yours,

Chief Executive Officer

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Where We’ve Been ... STATEWIDE

CARBONDALE

• R egistered hundreds of voters at dozens of events, festivals and our office • Helped hundreds of voters register to vote online • Educated voters regarding election choices • Alerted members to take urgent actions in regards to legislation • Engaged county clerks to ensure the accurate implementation of marriage equality

• A ctivated local clergy to be a part of legislative and outreach efforts • R allied support for LGBT equality and engaged Carbondale Pride Picnic attendees • C onducted a marriage forum at the Church of the Good Shepherd

AURORA • A ctivated local clergy to be a part of legislative and outreach efforts • Conducted a marriage forum at Bethany of Fox Valley UMC • Coordinated a local delegation to the March on Springfield

BELLEVILLE • R allied support for LGBT equality and engaged Metro East Pride Festival attendees • Conducted a marriage forum at Southwestern Illinois College

BELLWOOD • P resented on the status of marriage and LGBT equality issues at the West Suburban Senior Services Center SAGE group

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL • A ctivated local clergy to be a part of legislative and outreach efforts • Facilitated stakeholder meetings with local faith community members and organizations • Conducted a marriage forum at the Bloomington Police Department

BROOKFIELD • C oordinated a local delegation to the March on Springfield at Holy Covenant Metropolitan Community Church

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CHAMPAIGN/URBANA • R allied support for LGBT equality and engaged Champaign Urbana Pride Festival attendees • C onducted a marriage forum at the Champaign Public Library

CHICAGO • C o-hosted, with the Museum of Contemporary Art, a day of wedding ceremonies on June 2nd to mark full marriage equality in Illinois ●• H osted the first annual LGBT Equality Institute where over 100 community members and leaders joined us at the Embassy Suites Downtown/Lakefront ●• C oordinated a local delegation to the March on Springfield in the Lakeview and Uptown neighborhoods, the Loop, and the South Side • L aunched a series of trainings on the tax implications of marriage with the Center for Economic Progress • T rained Francis Parker School’s Junior class to secure marriage equality postcards • A ctivated local clergy to be a part of legislative and outreach efforts • C onducted marriage forums at Center on Halsted, Chicago Urban League, the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Embassy Suites Downtown/Lakefront, and dozens of other locations. • H osted a special marriage forum with Windy City Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (WCRAD) at Lake View Lutheran Church

...What We’ve Done • C o-hosted a panel discussion with Quarles & Brady geared at law professionals about how federal and state agencies are implementing the recognition of same-sex marriages • Briefed PFLAG members on statewide equality agenda • Met one on one with local clergy to discuss LGBT equality issues and the intersection of faith • Spoke on a panel for the Sexual Orientation Gender Identity (SOGI) section of the Illinois Psychological Association (IPA) called “Connecting the Dots: Resourcing Our LGBTQAI Clients” • Co-hosted a panel with the Family Institute at Northwestern University entitled "Gay & Married: Welcome to the Family" • Rallied support for LGBT equality and registered voters at Andersonville Midsommarfest attendees • Marched, danced, cheered alongside nearly 100 marchers and the Chicago Sky basketball team at the Chicago Pride Parade • Grew our support for equality issues and educated attendees at Northalsted Market Days • Partnered with Chicago Votes and Planned Parenthood of Illinois to register voters • Hosted a presentation at the Center on Halsted with Get Covered Illinois and AIDS Foundation of Chicago to discuss how newly married couples could take advantage of health insurance through the Affordable Care Act • Spoke about marriage equality at a workshop for clergy and lay leaders of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church • Hosted a discussion at the Federal Reserve Bank on implications of marriage equality

CRYSTAL LAKE

• S poke at the LGBTQ conference at McHenry County College called “Pride: The Changing Perceptions of the LBGTQ Community”

DEKALB • E ducated students at a discussion on LGBT issues at Northern Illinois University

ELMHURST • T abled at Elmhurst College for the “Big Gay Gathering” event

JOLIET • S poke to professors and staff about marriage equality at Joliet Junior College • C onducted a marriage forum at Joliet Junior College

MCHENRY • B riefed PFLAG members on statewide equality agenda

NORTHBROOK • T abled at the a screening of “Fish Out of Water” at the Northbrook Methodist Church

OAK PARK • C onducted a marriage forum at Oak Park Temple

PALATINE • A ctivated local clergy to be a part of legislative and outreach efforts • C onducted a marriage forum at Countryside Unitarian Church • C oordinated a local delegation to the March on Springfield at Countryside Unitarian Church • H osted a training on the tax implications of marriage at Countryside Unitarian Church

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Where We’ve Been ... ... What We’ve Done

cont.

PEORIA

SCHAUMBURG

• C oordinated bus pick-up location to the March on Springfield at the Planned Parenthood health center • Conducted a marriage forum at Fondulac Congregational UCC

• L ed a delegation to meet with Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth about the intersection of LGBT equality and immigration reform

QUAD CITIES • R allied support for LGBT equality and educated Quad Cities Pride Festival attendees • Conducted a marriage forum at St John’s Lutheran Church

ROCKFORD • A ctivated local clergy to be a part of our legislative and outreach efforts • Tabled at the LGBT Pride Picnic at the Unitarian Universalist Church • Coordinated a local delegation to the March on Springfield at the Unitarian Universalist Church • Conducted a marriage forum at the Unitarian Universalist Church • Hosted a training on the tax implications of marriage at the Unitarian Universalist Church

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SPRINGFIELD • L obbied tirelessly with community leaders, organizations and individuals for LGBT equality • A ctivated local clergy to be a part of our legislative and outreach efforts • R allied support for LGBT equality issues and registered voters for the third year in a row at the Illinois State Fair • G rew our support for LGBT equality and educated attendees at the Springfield Pride Festival • C onducted a marriage forum at the Phoenix Center

WAUKEGAN • C onducted a marriage forum at the Christ Episcopal Church

FIELDNotes

This year has been one for the history books! Marriage equality is the law of the land for Illinois. We collectively pushed past obstacles and challenges and activated a network of veteran volunteers and new-comers to motivate the Illinois General Assembly to be on the right side of history. During the final push for marriage equality, community organizers planned one of the largest LGBT rallies in recent years - the March on Springfield. The march attracted over 3,000 attendees, and despite inclement weather, Equality Illinois recruited and bused over 500 of those supporters from 8 locations throughout the state. Equality Illinois kicked off the march with a press conference in the rotunda of the capitol building with Governor Pat Quinn, Senator Dick Durbin, and other statewide elected officials and legislators. We would not have won marriage equality without the help of hundreds of volunteers throughout the state. In total, Equality Illinois executed a field program that generated over:

• 12,000 postcards to legislators • 250 phone banks • 280,000 phone dials • 7,000 call transfers to legislators • 46,000 e-mails to legislators Immediately following the marriage equality bill passing, we shifted our focus to full implementation of the law. We published the Marriage Rights in Illinois guide and hosted a series of 15 marriage forums throughout the state. We also made sure to hold county clerks accountable for the quick and accurate implementation of the law. Over the course of the year, Equality Illinois contacted all 102 county clerks five or more times to oversee the rollout of marriage equality in every county. As summer rolled around and marriage equality was fully enacted in our state on June 1, pride season was in full swing. Equality Illinois participated in festivals all over the state: Belleville, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago (Andersonville and Lakeview neighborhoods), Quad Cities, Rockford, and Springfield. For the third year in a row, Equality Illinois staffed the 11-day-long state fair. With the help of community partners like Affinity Community Services, CORAL, Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Springfield, and the Phoenix Center, we had a robust presence with over 100 volunteers. During each pride festival, we interacted with hundreds of supporters, discussed the future for our community post-winning marriage equality, registered voters, and grew our network. I look forward to engaging with and growing our statewide network in a new way. Equality Illinois is always looking for new ways to support the LGBT community in every part of the state and ensuring we all have lived equality no matter our zip code. See you in your neck of the woods soon!

PattyDillon Field Director

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Worth a THO

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OUSAND WORDS Equality Illinois co-organized the May 31 rally in the Illinois Capitol before the House adjourned without taking a vote.

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VOICES RISING

IN SUPPORT OF EQUALITY The consistent vocal support of affirming clergy and congregations across the state of Illinois advanced the push for marriage equality, but also embraced countless LGBT community members in an accepting and affirming environment. During this past year, Equality Illinois worked, with the help and guidance of the Faith Outreach committee, to support our network of congregations and achieved the following: • C oordinated delegations to the March on Springfield with friendly houses of worship: • In Palatine at Countryside Unitarian Church, in Aurora at Bethany of Fox Valley UMC. • F acilitated forums about the protections under the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act: • In Chicago at Fourth Presbyterian Church, in Palatine at Countryside Unitarian Church, in Rockford at the Unitarian Universalist Church, in Peoria at Fondulac Congregational UCC, in Waukegan at Christ Episcopal Church, in Carbondale at Church of the Good Shepherd, in Oak Park at Oak Park Temple, in Aurora at Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, in the Quad Cities at St John’s Lutheran Church. • Hosted trainings on the tax implications of marriage: • In Palatine at Countryside Unitarian Church, in Rockford at the Unitarian Universalist Church. • C onvened stakeholder meetings that assembled faith leaders, representatives of local organizations, and concerned citizens to discuss how to build up the local LGBT community: • In Bloomington at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal, in Palatine at Countryside Unitarian Church, in Rockford at the Unitarian Universalist Church • G athered clergy and faith leaders for a faith vigil in the capitol rotunda, in conjunction with Abraham Lincoln UU Congregation (ALUUC) in Springfield • P roduced the Supportive Religious Officiant List with over 300 faith leaders willing to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies in Illinois (which includes 84 cities and represents 25 denominations) intended to make it easier for couples to find a religious officiant. At the epicenter of so many communities in our state, there is a faith leader and/or congregation who supports the LGBT community in a visible and palpable way led by its congregants. 10

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ualit y q E in your

FAITH Community

A GUIDE TO LGBT-INCLUSIVE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES A GUIDE TO LGBT-INCLUSIVE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

Building

New Partnerships UNITED BECOMES EXCLUSIVE AIRLINE FOR EQUALITY ILLINOIS Two major Illinois institutions formed a unique partnership, as Equality Illinois announced Chicagobased United Airlines as the Exclusive Airline for the state’s oldest and largest advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans. United Airlines has been an industry leader in its LGBT workplace initiatives and was the recipient of the 2013 Equality Illinois Business Leadership Award at the annual Equality Illinois Gala. Under the “Exclusive Airline” agreement, Equality Illinois staff, board members and key supporters will be turning to United for flights to business meetings, and United will be supporting the ongoing work of Equality Illinois to secure full LGBT equality.

ATHLETES SUPPORTING THE WORK OF EQUALITY ILLINOIS Veteran Chicago mountain climber Joe Rudy trained to ascend Mount Everest to increase awareness of the battle for LGBT equality and raise funds for Equality Illinois and the Human Rights Campaign's regional and national efforts. His efforts were especially critical during our fight for marriage equality helping draw local and national awareness to the work going on in Illinois. "Climbing Everest is a huge task, incredibly difficult for anyone. But, I don't think, in a way, it's much different than the fighting Equality Illinois and the Human Rights Campaign have been doing for years for gay rights," Rudy told Windy City Times, when he kicked off his efforts. In addition to Joe's efforts, Equality Illinois also partnered with the WNBA's Chicago Sky for their Pride Night Game to help raise money to support our continued work on LGBT equality. Players from the team, the beloved Sky Guy mascot, and staff from the Chicago Sky all marched with Equality Illinois in the Chicago Pride Parade to help promote the fun-filled event.

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Transforming

Equality

G U I D E

T O

NAME AND ER GENDER MARK CHANGES

Equality Illinois was proud to make significant contributions to the growing cause of transgender visibility, acceptance and rights this year - a focus that continues in the new fiscal year.

As more and more transgender Illinoisans express their gender identity, the need grows to have their official documents conform to their appearance. Equality Illinois LAW ICE UNDER EQUAL JUST published a Name and Gender Marker Changes tool kit with guidance and government forms to aid transgender individuals through the sometimes difficult process of changing one’s name and documents. The 44-page Equality Illinois guide can be read and downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/EQIL-Name-Toolkit. In other policy developments, Equality Illinois’ conversations with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk paid off with their votes in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that protected people from workplace discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Work will continue to get a version of ENDA through Congress that protects all workers without broad religious exemptions. Also at the federal level, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that employers cannot discriminate against transgender workers and applicants. President Obama signed two executive orders that bar discrimination by federal contractors against LGBT workers and adds gender identity to antidiscrimination rules covering federal workers that already protect lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees. Equality Illinois was proud to showcase Illinois leaders in business, media and the arts this year. Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), a former soldier, an entrepreneur and investor, an adventurer and philanthropist, chaired the Equality Illinois 2014 Gala. At the February gala, Equality Illinois honored Chicago filmmaker Lana Wachowski with the Equality Illinois Freedom Award. Lachowski wrote, directed and executive produced with her brother Andy Wachowski the “The Matrix” trilogy as well as films “Cloud Atlas”, “Bound” and “Speed Racer.” Finally, Christina Kahrl, a sportswriter and editor for ESPN.com and board member emeritus for Equality Illinois, was a frequent commentator on sports stories as well as transgender issues.

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Building Stronger

Families

While ultimately building stronger families comes down to the family unit, Equality Illinois’ work creates an environment where families of all kinds have the opportunity to thrive. The campaign for full marriage rights in Illinois, which culminated on Nov. 20, 2013 when the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act was signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn, was built on the belief that same-sex families should have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities that other families enjoy. With the law on the books, explaining it and how to take advantage of it became the purpose of a series of Equality Illinois forums around the state, a publication of the Equality Illinois Guide to Marriage Equality, and operation of the EQIL Marriage Help Desk, where questions were answered on the phone and email. Equality Illinois was also in contact with all 102 Illinois county clerks, the offices that issue marriage licenses, to share the marriage equality guide and ensure the smooth implementation of the law. Getting married and creating a family is such a joyous moment, and Equality Illinois updated the 2014 Wedding Planning Guide, a one-stop resource for understanding the new Illinois marriage equality law and finding the right vendors and venues for the wedding of the couple’s dreams. Family also means making major personal and financial decisions and dealing with questions such as building a new family unit, the tax picture for same-sex couples, and the best health insurance structure. Equality Illinois, partnered with organizations such as the Family WEDDING CHECKLIST Institute at Northwestern University and The Center for Economic Progress, and Get Covered Illinois to host numerous forums on these MARRIAGE subjects. AT LEAST 6 MONTHS BEFORE WEDDING DATE Choose and announce the wedding and date Decide on wedding basics - type, style, budget Book location for ceremony, reception, and officiant (see pages 21 and 32 for ideas) Select Caterer (see page 29 for ideas) Select Florist (see page 35 for ideas) Book Entertainment (see page 31 for ideas) Write guest list Book Photographers/Videographers (see page 25 for ideas) Decide on those standing up at wedding Make wedding registry Reserve hotel rooms for out of town guests Order Invitations (see page 26 for ideas) WHAT RIGHTS WILL I HAVE IF I MARRY MY SAME-SEX PARTNER? Hire (see page 23 for ideas) All laws of the state of Illinois that are applicable to marriage apply equally to Wedding marriagesplanner of same-sex couples and

BASICS

After surveying all the adoption agencies in the state, Equality Illinois also published an adoption guide to help families find children in need of a loving home.

different sex couples and their children. Therefore, all married couples (same-sex or different-sex) have the same AT LEAST 4 MONTHS benefits, protections, and responsibilities under the law. Marriage provides over 600 state-level rights, benefits, BEFORE WEDDING DATE and protections to same-sex lawfully wedded couples, including rights relating to probate, health care decisions, Buy wedding rings medical and life insurance, and many other areas. The federal government also recognizes marriages of gay and Purchase clothing for those standing up at wedding lesbian couples, making available over 1,100 protections and rights. and tuxes/dresses for grooms/brides (see page 34 for ideas)

WHEN WILL ILLINOIS RECOGNIZE THE FREEDOM TO FOR SAME-SEX ○ MARRY Choose wedding cake (seeCOUPLES? page 35 for ideas)

The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act officially took○ effectArrange on June 1, 2014 and more than 5,000 Transportation Illinois same-sex couples have already gotten married or converted their civil union to a marriage. If couples ○ Book Honeymoon encounter any difficulties or have questions, they should get in touch with Equality Illinois by calling at 773-477AT LEAST 2 MONTHS 7173 or emailing us at info@eqil.org. BEFORE WEDDING DATE invitations IF WE WERE MARRIED IN ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTRYSend THAT HAS - Send invitations 6-8 weeks before event and RSVP date no later than 3 weeks MARRIAGE EQUALITY, DO WE NEED TO GET MARRIED AGAIN INmake ILLINOIS? before event No. If you were married in another state or country (as long as it was not a common law marriage) with marriage Obtain License equality, it will be recognized as a marriage in Illinois. You may be required to provide proof of your marriage such Meet with photographer as a copy of your marriage license from another state or country, but you do not need to obtain a new illinois Meet with officiant to finalize ceremony marriage license from the county clerk’s office. Write vows and let those speaking at ceremony/

2 0 1 4

AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE WEDDING DATE Call guests that have not RSVPed Finalize all details for honeymoon Finalize menu with caterer and all other details Complete seating plan Reconfirm with all vendors and give them a final head count ○ 1 WEEK BEFORE WEDDING DATE Prepare emergency kit with needle, thread, safety pins, band aids etc. Pick up wedding clothing Pack for Honeymoon Hold any pre-parties DAY BEFORE Have everything in place for ceremony Make sure guests have arrived Confirm flights for honeymoon Compile emergency list of vendors Get a good night’s sleep Wedding Day Eat breakfast See stylist Remember the rings Take a deep breath and stay calm Go for it ○ AFTER WEDDING Go on honeymoon Meet with photographer to go |over pictures Send thank-you notes

reception to write speeches

WILL CIVIL UNIONS STILL BE AN OPTION IF I DO NOT WANT TOmusic BE MARRIED? Choose and meet with DJ or band

Yes. Civil unions will remain an option for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. At least 1 month before wedding date Confirm hotel arrangements for out of town guests IF I ENTERED INTO A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP, CIVIL UNION, Plan stylists wedding accessories (ring pillow, baskets, OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR RELATIONSHIP LAWFULLY INPurchase ANOTHER STATE, decorations, place cards, favors etc.) WILL ILLINOIS RECOGNIZE MY RELATIONSHIP?

MARRIAGE PLANNING GUIDE

Illinois will recognize your relationship as a civil union. 2014 MARRIAGE PLANNING GUIDE

IF MY PARTNER AND I WERE REGISTERED AS DOMESTIC PARTNERS IN COOK COUNTY, DO WE NEED TO GET MARRIED?

| 11

If you want the legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits extended to spouses under Illinois law, you may wish to get married. The same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits afforded to married couples are not extended to domestic partners registered in Cook County. You can legally enter into a marriage regardless of whether you are registered as domestic partners in Cook County. 2014 MARRIAGE PLANNING GUIDE

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Year in 14

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Review Annual Report FYI4

Bills. Bills. Bills. Equality Illinois’ Legislative Docket

State Priorities Our community needs a powerful voice and a watchdog because if we are not vigilant, then we are vulnerable. Equality Illinois has an aggressive bipartisan advocacy team with over five decades of combined experience. Since the recent passage of marriage equality, there have been three attempts to attack the brand new law, such as Senate Bill 2637 by Senator Kyle McCarter (R-54) and House Bill 4263 by Representative Josh Harms (R-106). Thanks to the leadership of our key lawmakers, to the vigilance of our lobbyists, and to the support of our allies, every attempt has been derailed. We continued to advance equal treatment for LGBT individuals in Illinois, including beginning the conversation on banning the so-called gay conversion therapies. Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-14) and Senator William Delgado (D-2) introduced bills in their respective chambers to ban all mental health providers from engaging in “sexual orientation change efforts” with a person under age 18. The House bill secured more support and did so faster than any other LGBT bill in its first session, but not enough to pass it on the first try. We tracked a number of other bills this year as they moved through the legislative process, including successfully supporting a law introduced by Senator Michael Hastings (D-19) and Representative Scott Drury (D-58) that curtails the practice of posting pornographic or nude pictures of others online as revenge or as blackmail.

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Working at the

Federal Level In FY2014, delegations from Equality Illinois twice went to Washington to advocate for LGBT equality as part of the federal agenda. The groups met with toplevel members of the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Treasury and Department of State and discussed how laws

affecting

the

LGBT

community

were being expanded and implemented at

the

federal

administrative

level.

Representatives from Equality Illinois met with White House officials, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and members of the

Illinois

Congressional

Delegation

to advocate for legislative progress on key LGBT issues including federal nondiscrimination, marriage equality, and ending the blood ban.

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Building Stronger

Workplaces Federal Priorities In addition to the state legislative priorities, we also worked on the federal agenda, including stewarding ENDA through the House; pushing for the executive order on nondiscrimination by federal contractors, advocating for the repeal of the lifetime ban on blood donations by gay men, and advancing the anti-bullying bill. Earlier in the year, Equality Illinois became the first statewide equality group to call for fairer ENDA, opposing the disproportionate religious exemptions which would apply only to LGBT protected class and in a way that does not apply to other protected categories. EQILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call started a national conversation and prompted virtually every other state equality group to follow suit. Currently, Equality Illinois is calling for a new approach for federal nondiscrimination legislation.

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Here, There,

Everywhere

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Ads Get Creative, Even Seductive, To Attract Voters

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2014 Gala

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The

Road Ahead In the Spring of 2014, Equality Illinois built a strategic plan using input from community members, key stakeholders, and LGBT activists to determine the priorities for the LGBT equality movement. Responses helped us identify concrete objectives for FY2015 and beyond.

IMPLEMENT. Ensure existing laws, including marriage equality, are properly implemented throughout the state. EMPOWER. Hold educational forums across the state educating members of the LGBT community on their rights, how to take full advantage of these rights, and how to seek remedies when legal rights are impaired. WELCOME. Work with and provide expertise to Illinois-based businesses to create and maintain inclusive and welcoming workplaces, housing and public accommodations. ENGAGE. Engage existing welcoming and inclusive houses of worship and communities of faith where faith leaders act as advocates for LGBT rights EDUCATE. Convene second annual LGBT Equality Institute educating and empowering at least 200 LGBT activists and thought leaders to build our movement going forward. EXPAND. Build an effective, lasting statewide network to empower LGBT Illinoisans and to activate the population at large through educational series, networking meetings, and cultivating leadership. SECURE. Protect, defend and expand LGBT rights under the law by defeating all anti-LGBT legislative or ballot efforts as well as by advancing federal and state legislative priorities. INCLUDE. In pursuing every state and federal priority, ensure full inclusion of transgender community protections. BUILD. Expand coalitions to include students, labor unions, non-LGBT community members and organizations, advocacy groups, small businesses, and racial, immigrant, and economic justice organizations. VOTE. Empower thousands of new voters via online voter registration, and turn out tens of thousands of voters for the crucial statewide general election and municipal elections.

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Know your

Rights: Navigating the different protections and benefits of the law and how it affects out daily lives can be difficult for anyone, but knowing exactly how the law affects the rights of LGBT citizens is over more confusing due to frequently change laws. In order to empower LGBT Illinoisans to use their rights, Equality Illinois created a series of informational brochures, Know Your Rights, as well as Marriage Rights in Illinois.

educate but also empower LGBT couples to use

The Know Your Rights program educates the LGBT community about rights and responsibilities under state and federal law. Topics covered include: marriage recognition at the state and federal level; safe schools and anti-bullying; access to LGBT-inclusive health services; immigration; employment; housing accommodations; and transgender protections.

of our work as we worked with the 102 county clerks

Immediately after achieving the freedom to marry, Equality Illinois produced Marriage Rights in Illinois, a guide that covered answers to frequently asked questions regarding rights, protections, and benefits under the new law. The guide was used to not only

our educational events and community activities that

your

RIGHTS

brochures designed to educate the LGBT community about its rights and responsibilities under state and federal law. The contents of this pamphlet do not constitute legal advice.

Please consult an

attorney for legal advice.

Visit www.eqil. org or call us at (773) 477-7173 f you have othe r questions that have not been addr essed in this brochure.

KNOW

your

aspects of the Navigating different us in our daily law and how it affects t for anyone, lives can be difficul how the law but knowing exactly LGBT citizens affects the rights of confusing. more can be even ts a series of Equality Illinois presen your RIGHTS informational KNOW educate the brochures designed to its rights LGBT community about state under and responsibilities Visit www.eqil.org or contents of The law. l call us at (773) 477-7173 federa and if you have other questionsconstit that have ute let do not pamph this not been addressed in this brochure. consult an legal advice. Please

RIGHTS: LG BT EQ UA LIT Y IN ILL IN OI S

IM M IG RATI

Navigating different asp ects of the law and how it affects us in our daily lives can be difficult for anyone, but knowing exactly how the law affects the rights of LGB T citizens can be eve n more con fusing. Equality Illin ois presents a series of information al KNOW your RIGHTS brochures des igned to edu cate the LGBT commun ity about its rights and respons ibilities und er state and federal law. The con tents of this pamphle t do not con stitute legal advice. Please con sult an attorney for legal advice.

RIGHTS: KNOur yo W RIGHTS: HOUSING

RESOURCES Discrimination:

If you believe you are a victim of gender identity-motivated discrimination in housing, public accommodations or employment, the Illinois Department of Human Rights can assist you in filing a claim. For most cases, a claim must be filed within 180 days of the incident; a full year is allowed for housing cases.

LGB T ALIT Y EQU To learn more about the requirements of the Illinois Human Rights Act or to file an employment discrimination visit the Illinois Department of Human Rights complaint,IN website at www.state.il.us/dhr or call them at (312) 814-6200 or (217) 785-5100. ILLI NO IS Hate crimes:

If you are the victim of a hate crime, or witness an incident, call 911, 0, or the emergency number in your area. Be sure to get medical attention for any injuries. After reporting, Visit www as possible. .eqil. the crime oforg details write down the or as quicklygender, age, to remember call theatperpetrator(s), sawus If you (773) 477-7try 173and other distinguishing clothes weight, build, height, if you haverace, otheTake r ques was said, such as of anything note characteristics. tions that that not been time and location of comments, thehave or anti-LGBT threats addr essed in this broc and badge officer’s the incident, and the responding hurename . number. You should also try to preserve any evidence and take photographs of any injuries.

SAF E SCH OO LS

attorney for legal advice

. Visit www.eqil.org or call us at (773) 477-7173 s that have if you have other question this brochure. not been addressed in

as how to convert a civil union, acquire a marriage license, federal benefits, and their rights across state borders. More than 15 sessions were held in the state’s largest population centers to bring this information to community members statewide. Proper implementation of the law became a key part as well as federal and state administrative officials to ensure the intent of the law was carried out, so that tens of thousands of LGBT couples could be married and have their rights protected. These informational resources will be the backbone of Equality Illinois plans and participates in each year. If you would like to access any of this information, it is available under the Resources section of the Equality Illinois website at www.eqil.org.

KNOW

KNOW your LGBT EQUALITY IN ILLINOIS

their rights, with information covering issues such

Once a police report has been filed, your local officials are required by law to report the incident to the Illinois State Police for investigation. If you want the crime to be reported as a hate crime, tell the officer to note that on the report. Make sure the officer files an incident report form and assigns a case number. If the police do not assist you properly, file a complaint. If a police report is not taken at the time of your report, go to the police station and ask for one, and make sure to get your own copy.

your

Navigating different asp ects of the law and how it affects us in our daily lives can be difficult for anyone, but knowing exactly how the law affects the rights of LGB T citizens can be eve n mor Navigating different aspects ofetheconfusing. Equality Illin ois presents law and how it affects us in our dailya series of information al KNOW your lives can be difficult for anyone, RIGHTS brochures des igned to law cate the exactly how the edu but knowing LGBT commun ity about its rights rights of LGBT citizens affects the and respons ibilities und er state can beandeven more confusing. federal law. The content s of of Illinois presents a series Equality this pamphlet do not constitu te KNOW your RIGHTS informational legal adv ice. Please con sult an designed to educate the brochures attorney for legal adv ice. rights its LGBT community about

RIGHTS: LG BT EQ UA LIT Y IN ILL IN OI S

EM PL O YM

EN T

and responsibilities under state and federal law. The contents of this pamphlet do not constitute legal advice.

Please consult an

attorney for legal advice.

The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance offers assistance with any safe schools-related topics and can be reached at (312) 368-9070.

Visit www.eqil.org or call us at (773) 477-7173 if you have other questions that have not been addressed in this brochure.

KNOW the country for the future? Most of What does this mean marriages are legal in California will see no change. Same-sex jurisdictions Americans now live in once again, and 30% of that allow same-sex marriage. In May 2008, the California What was this case about?: could not that same-sex couples Supreme Court decided the second marry, making California be denied the right to months same-sex marriage. Six state in the nation to allow 8 (“Prop 8”) approved Proposition later, California voters constitution to limit marriage California the amended the which This amendment overruled to opposite-sex couples. passage 2008 decision. After the California Supreme Court’s for Equal Rights (“AFER”) Foundation American the 8, of Prop arguing of two same-sex couples, filed a lawsuit on behalf Protection Due Process and Equal that Prop 8 violates the Attorney Constitution. California States United the of Clauses Arnold and California Governor General Jerry Brown ional that Prop 8 was unconstitut Schwarzenegger agreed rth, the the case. Dennis Hollingswo and refused to defend Prop stepped in to defend head of ProtectMarriage.com, Prop in California decided that 8. The federal court sitting Court n and the Ninth Circuit Constitutio U.S. the 8 violates a stay the Ninth Circuit issued on of Appeals agreed. However, that their decision is officially pending appeal, meaning For the issues its own decision. Court Supreme the hold until samethe law in California and time being, Prop 8 remains Supreme Court not legal in that state. The marriages wwware sexVisit .eqil. org 2013. 26, or March on heard call oral arguments

KNOW your

RIGHTS: LGBT EQUALITY IN ILLINOIS

us at (773) 477-7 if you have ON 173 PROTECTI EQUAL othe r questions United States v. Windsor, In deciding that have is the issue? not been What cases addr esse Court decided that equal protection in this the Supreme d brochure be decided on a “careful LGBT individuals should .

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RIGHTS:

aspects of the Navigating different us in our daily law and how it affects t for anyone, lives can be difficul how the law exactly but knowing LGBT citizens affects the rights of confusing. more even be can ts a series of Equality Illinois presen your RIGHTS informational KNOW educate the brochures designed to its rights LGBT community about under state and responsibilities contents of and federal law. The constitute this pamphlet do not consult an legal advice. Please . attorney for legal advice

LG BT EQ UA LIT Y IN ILL IN OI S

H EA LT H SE RV IC ES

involving consideration” basis.

TRANSGENDER ISSUES

has never ? The Supreme Court Why is this important to cases level of scrutiny to apply before decided what . The standard level of scrutiny, involving the LGBT community government simply means that the called “rational basis,” passing a had a rational basis for need only show that it to be appears ion” considerat discriminatory law. “Careful courts, has not been tested in that scrutiny of level a new than more rigorous standard but it seems to be a slightly which lines of intermediate scrutiny rational basis (along the e on the basis of sex). Only discriminat that laws to the is applied will be implemented in time will tell how this standard e against for laws that discriminat courts, and what this means . community the LGBT

Visit www.eqil.org or call us at (773) 477-7173 s that have if you have other question this brochure. not been addressed in

W Our KNyo

RIGHTS: LGB T EQU ALIT Y IN ILLI NO IS

MARRIAGE RECOGNITION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL

for their firm of Foley & Lardner LLP We are grateful to the law only as a This summary is intended assistance with this project. in Hollingsworth v. Supreme Court decision as legal advice. general description of the Windsor. It is not intended Perry and United States v.

Annual Report FYI4

Safer

Schools

The first state law specially addressing bullying passed in 2007. It required school districts to have a bullying policy on file but it provided no real guidance to school districts on how to fight bullying. In 2010, a revised Prevent School Violence Act went into effect that prohibited bullying in schools, defined bullying behavior and expanded the law's reach to include all private, non-sectarian schools in Illinois. For the first time, it also named the identity types of students particularly vulnerable to bullying, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Last May, the Illinois General Assembly completed work on a major upgrade of the anti-bullying law. Gov. Pat Quinn signed the bill into law on June 26, 2014. This significant advancement was made possible by the hard work of parents, sponsors Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Sen. Heather Steans, and our partner advocacy groups such as the Safe Schools Alliance and the ACLU of Illinois. As described by Sen. Steans, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Based on recommendations from the School Bullying Prevention Task Force, this legislation requires school districts, charter schools and non-sectarian private schools to strengthen their anti-bullying policies in order to provide a safe learning environment for all students. Schools must designate staff members to receive anonymous reports of bullying, make efforts to investigate reports within ten days, protect student privacy, prohibit retaliation and false accusations, establish the types of interventions used to address bullying and inform students and parents of bullying-related procedures.â&#x20AC;?

Annual Report FYI4

MAPPING THE

Future

On May 17, 2014, LGBT community members, advocates, and allies attended the day-long LGBT Equality Institute in Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Embassy Suites Downtown/Lakefront Hotel and participated in a myriad of workshops on issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Illinoisan and the strategies for addressing them. Equality Illinois staff and community partners led 15 sessions focused on engaging institute participants and learning what the community needed from us to secure equal treatment. Presenting partners included Chicago House, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, Howard Brown Health Center, National Immigrant Justice Center, New Hope Recovery Center, Center on Halsted, SAGE, Lambda Legal, Northwestern University, University of Illinois, Depaul University, and Commissioner Debra Shore.Attendees responded with overwhelmingly positive feedback about the structure and content of the day, and offered suggestions on how to grow and expand the institute for next year. One highlight of the day was the lunchtime panel discussion by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Gautam Raghavan, White House Advisor on LGBT Issues, and Meg Gorecki, Midwest Director for the U.S. Department of Justice. All three panelists stressed the work that is left to accomplish at the federal level, including ending employment discrimination, integrating transgender members of the military, repealing the lifetime ban on homosexual men donating blood, and writing a national anti-bullying policy. This conference promises to be even larger and more inspiring next year.

Annual Report FYI4

Midwest

LEADERSHIP Summit As the largest LGBT equality organization in the region, Equality Illinois annually hosts and convenes the Midwest Leadership Summit. Held over two days in the Fall, the Summit brought together nearly 100 LGBT leaders and activists from nine area statewide equality groups. The conference held in conjunction with the Equality Federation worked to build skills, share regional best practices and determine what's next on the regional and national LGBT agenda.

Annual Report FYI4

Registering

VOTERS As of July 1, 2014, Illinois residents are able to register to vote online on the Illinois Board of Elections website. This new policy makes registering to vote more accessible to youth and transient populations in Illinois. For that reason, Equality Illinois set out to advertise the new policy broadly, while simultaneously amplifying the importance of this election for our state, and encouraging our LGBT-supportive base to vote in November. Building on the success (and national profile) of Equality Illinoisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; successful 2010 GOTV campaign Vote Naked Illinois, EQIL is launching the Get Your V-Card campaign, in partnership with Chicago Votes and Planned Parenthood of Illinois. The anchor website, found at GetYourVcard.org, is a one-stop location for voters to (1) commit to vote, (2) verify if their registration is up to date, (3) register to vote, and (4) request an absentee ballot. The biggest impact of our campaign will be the paid media and advertising element. Equality Illinois commissioned the production of a short commercial spot highlighting the Get Your V-Card campaign and the new voter registration policy. The creative concepts are tongue and cheek and intended to get wide-spread attention from the media and through social media. We will encourage supporters to share our content on social media using hashtags like #getyourvcard. This portion of the campaign will have a special resonance with younger voters, who tend to closely connect with Equality Illinoisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; core issues.

Annual Report FYI4

ElectingEquality March Primary

General

Illinoisans secured a decisive victory in the March 2014 primary election with a substantial boost by the efforts of Equality Illinois. Not a single lawmaker - Republican or Democrat - who voted for the freedom to marry lost their primary due to their support of the marriage bill.

The primary victories guaranteed that the issues important to LGBT voters, our allies, and fair-minded Illinoisans were well-represented in the fall campaign. Now we must build on our efforts and work even harder to ensure that Illinois remains a pro-equality state after the November general election.

We put up a fight to defend our historic legislative gains. We rallied our allies and took on powerful opponents to demonstrate that the LGBT community will stand up for those who stand up for us. Overwhelmingly, voters nominated candidates who supported the freedom to marry and who will help advance LGBT equality in the future. For the primary election, the Equality Illinois Political Action Committee spent an unprecedented $150,000, including $130,000 in direct contributions to candidates, and built an aggressive voter persuasion and get-outthe vote campaign that targeted high-priority districts. This included a robust phone-banking program that consisted of over 100 volunteers who made calls on behalf of eight legislative targets. In races like state Rep. Ron Sandack's, who won with a margin of 150 votes and whose primary challenger made Sandack's vote for the marriage bill the focus in the race, Equality Illinois phone banks made over 3,000 dials to constituents and turned out more than 300 votes. This historic election win signaled the same determination that Equality Illinois, the LGBT community, and our allies demonstrated in the battle over the marriage bill - to stand up and defend our rights - and it bodes well for further advancing LGBT equality in Illinois.

Annual Report FYI4

Ensuring Core Voters are Current One of the biggest voting obstacles for core voters are out-dated registrations, which happens when voters change their home address and forget to update their registration. Our campaign specifically addressed that by helping voters confirm that their registration was current and then motivating them to vote by mail, earlyvote, or vote on Election Day.

Educating Consistent Voters Among the core, regular voters who identify as LGBT, there is a significant proportion who are unfamiliar with candidatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; positions on LGBT equality issues. Our additional goal, therefore, is to educate those voters on statewide and legislative candidatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stance on LGBT equality.

Campaign-Coordinated GOTV As we had successfully done during the 2014 primary election, the Equality Illinois PAC work with campaigns to contact and turn out voters for LGBTsupportive candidates. In addition to campaign-supplied voters, we were able to use our own polling research to identify and microtarget our GOTV efforts. This GOTV effort was an aggressive 6-8 week program complete with a full time volunteer coordinator, paid phone bankers, and data reporting. We had at least 10 and as many as 18 phonebankers per day, five days per week, for the duration of our telephonic GOTV effort, culminating with Election Day massive phone bank.

CAPITOL CLUB Briefing Series The Briefing Series is an exclusive program for members of the Capitol Club, to bring members together with statewide and national political leaders who offer insider perspectives and commentary on the LGBT rights movement. Briefings are closed to the media. In 2014, we featured:

Dick Durbin,

Mike Quigley,

U.S. Senator, Majority Whip

U.S. Congressman, Illinoisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 5th District

Brad Schneider,

Mike Frerichs,

U.S. Congressman, Illinoisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 10th District

Illinois Senator, 52nd District

Tom Cross, Illinois Representative, 97th District

For more information on how you can join the Capitol Club, visit eqil.org or contact us at 773-477-7173

Annual Report FYI4

FY2014 Capitol Club

Thank You! BENEFACTOR Craig Andree & Frank Quinn Mariterese & Pat Balthrop Robert Brumbaugh Gabriel Fontes & Grant Gochnauer Col (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Ret.)

Laura Ricketts Thomas Skilling Peter Tortorello & Robert Wolf

PRINCIPAL Anonymous Yvette Chavez & Lisa Gershenson Mark Cozzi Jim & Joan Ducayet Art Johnston & Jose Pena Paul Lehmann & Ronna Stamm Michael Leppen Robert Park & Robert Rupp Hon. Heather Steans

SUSTAINER Anonymous Whitney Allen & John Whitehurst Michael Barry John Becvar & Jim Walsh Kay Carter & June Donka Dalila Fridi & Elizabeth McKnight Peter Hammer David & Susan Hauswirth David Kovy James Madigan Jim Norberg & Carl Scianna Jennifer Rule & Christy Webber

LEADER John Geary & Chuck Middleton Theodore Grady & Ross Slotten Mary Jo & Stephen Herseth Robert Kohl & Clark Pellett Ryan LaLonde & Christopher Moody Clark Miller & Gregory Story David Prindable

ACTIVIST Clyde Alpert Julie Anderton Charles Austin & Stewart Whitman Austin Baidas James Bailey Brad Ballast Bradley Balof

Annual Report FYI4

John Barry & Andrew Otto Mary Dee Beaubien Andrew Bigelow & Brian Lighty Marcus Boggs Kristi Browne Barry Brunetti & Robert Neubert Phil Burgess & Jim Nutter Scott Burgh David Caplan & Robert Macko Dennis Centorbi John & Char Cepek Hon. Thomas Chiola & Drew Jemilo Robert Cohn Joshua Collins & Charlie Eder Michael Collins Anthony Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Amato & Jim LoBianco Kurt Dahl & Jeff Clark Cassandra Damm & Arthur Paris David Dean Alexander deHilster & Michael Jefvert Nicholas Dehnert Joe Della Monica Dirk Denison Daniel Dever Edward Diffin David Ernesto Munar Toby Eveland Nicholas Farina Jon Thomas Foley & Jeffrey Grinspoon Mike Forti & Daniel Joseph Tim Fox Dan & Jacqueline Frett Michael Fruchter Hon. Bridget Gainer J. Richard Gallagher & Clifford Kaiser Eric Gallagher Kris Gibbons & William Lopez Richard Gibbons & Robert Ollis Mark Glafka & Damon Marquis Jerry Glover John Graziani & Timothy Volk Patrick Harms Kevin Hauswirth Byron Hoover Garth & Terry Howe Dennis Johnson

Randolph Johnston Kelly Jones & Quincy Fuller Christina Kahrl & Charley Wanamaker Robert Kendzior & Clay Tillack Holly King Ray Koenig & Jony Song James Konstantopoulos John Litchfield James Madigan Michael Matlock Kevin McGirr Hon. Michael McHale Michael McNamara Nuha Nazy Brandon Neese & David Wick Sherry Nelson Gregory Ostfeld Chris Overby & Jason Santos Editha Paras John Parro & Jerry Teske John Howard Percy Christopher Pett Kathy Powers & Ellen Wiggins Brian Price Matthew Pruyn William Pry Denise Punka Alan & Irene Redman David Rolain & Andrew Skiba Paul Ruffino & Michael Weaver Norman Sandfield Joseph Silberman Tom Sinkovic Andrew Solomon Dan Sproull Mario Sullivan Robert Sullivan Hon. Tom Tunney Jeff Turner Frank Villella Wilton Walker Danny Wein Joe & Michele Wein C.J. & Elizabeth Winke Jerald Wray William Zanetis

Annual Report FYI4

Corporations and Organizations American Family Insurance Aon Corporation Baker & McKenzie Biagio Cru and Estate Wines BMO Harris Bank Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione Chapman & Cutler Chicago Beverage Systems Chicago Teacher’s Union Clark Hill PLC CNA Insurance DLA Piper Dykema Gossett Edwards Wildman Palmer Exelon Freedom to Marry Gill Action Fund Goodwin Procter Gochnauer Family Foundation Greenberg Traurig Grund & Levitt Hearty Restaurant Hinshaw & Culbertson Human Rights Campaign Hyatt Corporation Jenner & Block K & L Gates Kirkland & Ellis Mariano’s Marshall Gerstein & Borun McDermott Will & Emery McGuireWoods Merrill Lynch MillerCoors Moet Hennessy USA Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg Office of the Chicago City Treasurer Perkins Coie Private Bank Quarles & Brady Reed Smith Robert W. Baird & Co Roundy’s Supermarkets Sagin Sawbridge Studios Ltd Schiff Hardin Seyfarth Shaw Sidley Austin Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom Unite Here Local 1 32

Annual Report FYI4

United Airlines Walgreens Walmart Steven Zanetis Management Co. Winston & Strawn Wirtz Beverage Group

Foundations Alexander Greenbaum Philanthropic Fund Alphawood Foundation Gill Foundation Illinois Bar Foundation Kirkland & Ellis Foundation Proteus Fund/CMC Sidley Austin Foundation Tawani Foundation

IN-KIND DONORS Amanda Corcoran Angelo Barone Barry-Regent Quality Cleaners Boetto & Boetto Insurance Broadway in Chicago Bryan Boomershine Casey Moran’s Catering by Michael’s Cathy Sikora Charles Nelson Charlie Rice-Minoso Chicago Bears Chicago Cut Steakhouse Chicago Gay Hockey Association Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Chicago White Sox Chicago Wolves Ciro Ciro Clarins USA Classical Angst Publishing & Records Court Theatre Creech Solutions CSO Choir David Derks Design & Interiors Deuce’s & The Diamond Club Douglas J Aveda Institute Chicago Dr. Timothy Loftus Drs. Rosenfeld & Mandelaris East Bank Club Eli Teas Erin Bonham eta Creative Arts Foundation Fiorentino’s

Fire Island Pines Fireside Restaurant Fitness Formula Club Gold Coast Flywheel Sports Chicago Foley & Lardner Frank Event Design Gabby’s Barber Shop Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago Glessner House Museum Goldstar Events Goodman Theatre Greenlawn Landscaping, Inc Green’s Nails and Massage Hadley Rue Hamilton Beach Hearty Restaurant Holly Dinkel Honeywell Hotel Sax Chicago HUB 51 Hubbard Street Dance Jim Karas Personal Training John E. Hessling Jonathan Adler Julie Schneider JW Marriott Chicago Hotel Kane County Cougars Kincades’s Bar & Grill Kirkland & Ellis Lady Gregory’s Landmark Theatres Las Manos Gallery Laura and Andrew Maychruk Lincolnshire Mariott Lookingglass Theatre Co. Loretta Julian Lucky Strike Lanes Lynda Creech/ Sky-King Airlines Malnati Organization, Inc Mark Brown Photography Matt Cohenour Matthew Lew Fine Art McDermott Will & Emery Menz Room Michael Leppen Michael Waddell Miriam Hoover Morton’s Steakhouse Music of the Baroque Namaskar Yoga Nicole Quaisser

Northlight Theatre Orbitz Park Hyatt Chicago, NoMl Kitchen Parlour on Clark Philadelphia Choir Phil Stefani Group Porchlight Music Theatre Progressive Chiropractic PRP Wine International Quarles & Brady Rachel Northway Rae Livenby Rebell Strength and Conditioning Robert & Bryan Home Robert John Russo Gallery Rockit Ranch Productions Sea Glass Fine Arts Sensible Organics Shedd Aquarium Sidetrack Smith & Wollensky Sports & Social Club of Louisville Sutton Studios Swedish Bakery Terry’s Toffee Tesori The Bagel The Clubhouse The Fix The Helios Men’s Resort of Palm Springs The James Chicago The Land of Nod The Leigh Gallery The Millennium Knickerbocker The Peace School The Peninsula The Redhead Piano Bar Thodos Dance Chicago Thomas Fallon Photography Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self Defense Center Tiffany Syzmanski Time Line Theatre Company Tomas Rodgers United Walt Disney World Warby Parker William Ferris Chorale Wirtz Beverage Illinois WT Writers’ Theatre Zanies Comedy Night Club Zipcar Annual Report FYI4

Launched the first-ever LGBT Equality Institute, a daylong conference with over 150 attendees held to discuss topics ranging from transgender equality and safe schools to homelessness and healthcare. Engaged more than 1,100 faith community members through our Faith and Freedom Initiative as more than 200 clergy and an additional 200 lay leaders from every part of the state signed on to our Faith Letter to support the freedom to marry. Ensured that government officials understand the new marriage law by working with the 102 county clerks throughout the state. Held 15 marriage forums in the state’s largest population centers to empower LGBT individuals with knowledge of their newly gained rights. Published comprehensive Marriage Rights in Illinois to educate LGBT individuals on everything from converting a civil union to filing taxes to managing rights across state borders.

YOUR DOLLAR$ AT WORK FOR EQUALITY Each dollar you generously donated, combined with contributions from other supporters, provided the resources to make historic progress over the past year.

In the fiscal year 2014, Equality Illinois… Furthered Transgender 101 programs by holding discussions throughout the state geared toward the needs and issues of the transgender community and by producing the first-ever 44-page Guide to Name & Gender Marker Changes, a key toolkit to assist transgender individuals facing the sometimes difficult task of changing one’s name and obtaining new government documents. Partnered with the City of Chicago Treasurer’s Office to educate key under-served demographics within the LGBT community about the basics of checking, savings, and credit accounting as well as on budgeting and saving money for the future in a new financial literacy initiative. Built coalition of labor unions, businesses large and small, community groups, and minority community leaders to announce their support for marriage equality through our Allied for Equality Initiative. Reached over 5,000 individuals to educate them about LGBT legal rights as the only LGBT group (one of the only LGBT groups?) to participate in the Illinois State Fair. Increased workplace inclusiveness and corporate responsibility in law firms throughout the state as the number of firms with a perfect score on the annual Equality Illinois Law Firm Survey has doubled since its initial implementation. Partnered with Planned Parenthood and Chicago Votes in statewide campaign to register youth and other citizens to vote. Held tax forums on the implications of marriage equality throughout the state as a part of our financial literacy campaign.

Annual Report FYI4

FY2014

COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Special Events

Individual Contributions

Corporate Contributions ns tio da un Fo

Individual Contributions (Non-event) Corporate contributions (Non-event) Foundations & Trusts Special Events Total Revenues

23% 15% 5% 57%

$1,214,279

100%

$759,377 $151,810 $136,177

73% 14% 13%

$1,047,364

100%

$272,244 $183,589 $65,000 $693,446

Fun

dra

isin

ts us Tr

Programs & Education

Administrative

Programs & Education Administration Fundraising Total Expense

The numbers represent the audited combined figures for Equality Illinois and Equality Illinois Education Project. Please contact Equality Illinois at 773-477-7173 or info@eqil.org, if you wish to request a copy of our Independent Auditorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report.

Annual Report FYI4

17 North State Street, Suite 1020 Chicago, IL 60602 773.477.7173 info@eqil.org facebook.com/equalityillinois twitter.com/equalityill www.eqil.org