CHICAGO — Equality Illinois PAC, the political arm of Equality Illinois has endorsed candidates for Illinois governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
The PAC is endorsing JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton for governor and lieutenant governor. Brian Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois said both major party candidates were supporters of LGBTQ civil rights. He cited Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner for signing laws such as the a law to allow transgender residents to update their birth certificates, a “gay panic” defense ban and a conversion therapy ban. Johnson gave two reasons for their endorsement of the Democrat.
“First, while Governor Rauner has been a supporter of LGBTQ civil rights, we believe JB Pritzker will be a champion. His record proves that. Pritzker has lead out front on LGBTQ civil rights for decades. He has made LGBTQ civil rights a central part of his campaign, and we believe he will continue to do so as Governor.
‘Second, the Illinois budget crisis has hurt the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community: our homeless youth, our seniors, our poor, and those of us living with HIV. While Governor Rauner is not solely responsible for the crisis, the buck stops with him. The Equality Illinois PAC advocates for a Governor who will support both our civil rights and the full funding of services the most vulnerable members of our community need. Governor Rauner has not delivered on this critical need.”
Kwame Raoul has received the PAC’s endorsement for state attorney general, siting both the long anti-LGBTQ record of GOP candidate Erika Harold but also Raoul’s record of support.
Raoul was a co-sponsor of the 2005 law that banned discrimination against LGBTQ people in the state and for marriage equality. He also voted for anti-bullying protections, the conversion therapy ban, the updated birth certificate law and recent legislation that would require LGBTQ inclusion in history classes.
Harold, on the other hand according to EI, said it would be better to place a child in an abusive heterosexual home than a supportive same-sex home.
“As the mother of twins, I am shocked and disgusted by Harold’s alleged comments that she would rather place a child in the arms of an abusive straight couple than with a loving same-sex couple, like my wife and me,” said Nicole Bashor, Vice-Chair of the Equality Illinois PAC. “She does not represent our values.”
She has also, in the past, supported a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.