BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. – State Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, is applauding two new landmark LGBTQ+ equality measures signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week.

“Because of the efforts of Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly, Illinois continues to be at the forefront in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and recognition,” said Didech. “This is another step towards achieving equality and justice for everyone in our state.”

Didech is the chief House sponsor of Senate Bill 1378, now Public Act 101-0327, which establishes non-discrimination protections in jury service for LGBTQ+ Illinoisans, ensuring prospective jurors are not excluded due to their sexual orientation. Previously, state law only prevented discrimination of prospective jurors based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and economic status. Didech’s new law adds “sexual orientation” to that list.

Didech is also a sponsor of House Bill 246, now Public Act 101-227, which requires that history textbooks purchased for Illinois schools include portions dedicated to the contributions of LGBTQ+ Americans. Didech hopes both pieces of legislation will send a message that Illinois is on the right side of history.

“While Donald Trump works to reverse all the progress we have made, Illinois is fighting back and standing with our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors,” Didech said. “Our state and community have made a lot of progress over the past few years in the fight for equality and must continue doing everything we can to promote a more welcoming society.”

AURORA, Ill. – Legislation supported by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, to increase the number of apprenticeship jobs for minorities throughout the state was signed into law last week.

“Jobs in the construction industry are in high demand and can be a great career to make a quality living wage,” said Hernandez. “Despite the high demand, minorities throughout the state still struggle to land a job that can support them and their families.”

Hernandez co-sponsored Senate Bill 534, which will create the new Bureau on Apprenticeship Programs within the Illinois Department of Labor and an accompanying advisory board. Leadership from each chamber will appoint a member to the advisory board, totaling 12 members. The bipartisan board will be given the task to examine the current systems and processes that are limiting minorities from gaining access to careers in the construction field, along with giving recommendations to the governor and the General Assembly on how to increase these jobs. The bill received large bipartisan support, and the new law will take effect on Jan. 1st, 2020.

“There are countless barriers that minorities face that prohibit them from finding a well-paying career compared to their white counterparts,” said Hernandez. “An apprenticeship is a crucial kick-start to a long and successful career, and it is time that minorities are better represented in the construction field.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Following the deadly domestic terrorist attack in Charlottesville, VA, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, sponsored legislation condemning hate groups.

“The fact that the country witnessed a violent and racially divisive gathering reminiscent of the race riots in the sixties should serve as a reminder that we need to have serious discussions about race in America,” Mussman said. “We need to confront hate and bigotry head on, otherwise these acts of terror will only continue. I am also disappointed by the response from our president, who denied calling the alt-right protesters domestic terrorists.”

Mussman was a co-sponsor of House Resolution 569, which condemns white supremacists, neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and other groups that espouse hate. It also mourns the death of Heather Heyer, who was killed when a white supremacist drove his car into a group of people protesting against hate, and the deaths of Virginia state troopers Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Trooper Berke M. M. Bates, whose helicopter crashed in the area after responding to the protests.

In her efforts to combat acts of hatred and violence, Mussman also supported and passed House Bill 2390, which extends hate crime protections for the exterior and grounds of religious buildings. Individuals convicted of committing hate crimes must attend in-person educational classes to discourage such crimes, as well as perform community service.

“These past hateful sentiments cannot be ignored or tolerated,” Mussman said. “The horrific events in Charlottesville serve as yet another example of why we must stand together against violence, hate and intolerance and unite to address these crippling issues.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Committed to fighting for women’s rights, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, member of the Latino Caucus, voted to pass legislation through the House Wednesday that would move Illinois one step closer toward pay equity between me and women.

“As a mother of a teenage daughter, it is my priority to decrease the number of obstacles that often hold women back from personal and professional success,” Hernandez said. “Women generally earn less than men, so if you ask female candidates about their pay history, it may lock them into lower salaries, which is why passing this legislation is a crucial step toward equality.”

Hernandez’s House Bill 2462, would forbid employers from paying employees with equal experience and in identical roles, different wages. Among other things, the bill would make it harder for employers to ask job applicants about their pay history during the application process. Massachusetts recently enacted similar legislation and Philadelphia became the first city to ban private sector employers from asking job applicants about their salary history.

“It’s unacceptable that in the year 2017, a woman who works full-time, year-round, makes about 79 cents for every dollar earned by a man, and this gap gets even bigger for women of color, particularly Latinas,” Hernandez said. “Inequity in pay is not only wrong for its obvious reasons, but also because it’s bad for the economy as lower wages make it harder for women to take care of their families. I urge my colleagues in the Senate and Gov. Rauner to support this measure so we could ensure that equal pay for equal work is more than just a slogan.”