HR0086 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0086 LRB101 08520 MST 55281 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Donald Trump shamefully rolled back the hard-fought progress of the LGBTQ+ community since the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell by banning transgender Americans from serving in our country's military; and

WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of the United States wrongfully validated his attack on our brave service members by temporarily allowing the ban to go into effect; and

WHEREAS, In response to this hateful attack on service members by our country's very own commander-in-chief and the nation's highest court, United States Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois hero, responded by stating that when she was bleeding to death in her Black Hawk helicopter on a dusty field in Iraq, she didn't care if the American troops risking their lives to help save her were gay, straight, transgender, black, white, male, or female; and

WHEREAS, Since taking office, Donald Trump and his extremist allies have worked to deny basic human rights to LGBTQ+ Americans; and

WHEREAS, Not only has Donald Trump's administration banned LGBTQ+ Americans from honorably serving our country, they have argued against people qualifying for Title VII protection under civil rights legislation, which would allow people to be fired for their sexual orientation with no grounds for legal recourse; and

WHEREAS, Donald Trump's administration has revoked guidelines that protected LGBTQ+ youth in their schools; and

WHEREAS, Donald Trump's administration has halted or rolled back regulations intended to protect LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination in health care settings; and

WHEREAS, These attacks on our fellow Americans are an affront to the founding principles of our nation; and

WHEREAS, In a time of dangerous, anti-democratic rhetoric on the rise across the world, Donald Trump's actions hinder our country's standing in the world as a leader of justice and equality; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois values and respects the inherent worth of every person, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois will continue fighting for every one of its citizens by continuing to enact state-level protections that support the LGBTQ+ community; and

WHEREAS, People throughout the State of Illinois have gone to great lengths to be allies and support our fellow LGBTQ+ residents by planning pride festivities in communities like Chicago, Carbondale, Aurora, and Buffalo Grove; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we condemn Donald Trump's blatant bigotry and discriminatory policies against the LGBTQ+ community, whose perseverance and battle for justice embody the true spirit of our union, a spirit which calls on us to perfect our union by correcting the wrongs in society until we are all truly equal; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to BG Pride, Mundelein LGBT Alliance and Allies, and to all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.