Earlier this week, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed HB 3930, an enhanced hate crime protections law that explicitly includes crimes against transgender people.
The existing hate crimes law, signed in 1990 by Gov. James Thompson, included sexual orientation as a protected category, which had been interpreted to include gender identity. The new law, authored by Equality Illinois specifically names gender identity as a protected category in the state’s hate crimes statutes. The Anti-Defamation League partnered with Equality Illinois to advocate for the measure.
The new law also extends hate crimes protections to community centers that may be targeted for institutional vandalism because of sexual orientation or gender identity status. HB 3930 unanimously passed the Illinois House and Senate. Cherkasov noted that the legislative leaders from both parties were instrumental in helping secure bipartisan votes for the measure, which goes into effect on January 1, 2016.
“We are excited this important bill will now become law and explicitly cover the full LGBT community under the Illinois hate crimes statute,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans.
“We thank Gov. Rauner for signing House Bill 3930, the first piece of pro-LGBT legislation to cross his desk. We also thank state Rep. Sam Yingling, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, and state Sen. Daniel Biss for their sponsorship and dedicated leadership on this legislation,” Cherkasov said.
Congratulations! Another step in the right direction.