equality illinois fy2013 annual report

E Q U A L I T Y I L L I N O I S

ANNUAL REPORT

FY20I3

The MISSIONThe Mission of Equality Illinois is to

secure, protect and defend equal

rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and

transgender people in Illinois.

2 ANNUAL REPORT FYI3

A WORD OF THANKS

Bernard Cherkasov Thank you for supporting Equality Illinois and our mission to secure, protect, and defend equal rights of

lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Illinoisans.

When we publicly launched our “I DO” support marriage equality campaign in summer of 2012, many

could not imagine that we could secure so many legislative victories so fast. But we were serious about

our effort and so were our members. We opened two campaign offices in targeted areas; hired field

staff to identify new supporters and strengthen existing bases; established working groups to create the

African American, Latino, Religious, Republican, and Business Cases for Marriage; and reached every

corner of the state to push for the freedom to marry.

We engaged unprecedented numbers of Illinoisans in conversation about marriage, turning their support

into action. That is how we passed the marriage bill through two Senate Executive Committees, through

the full Senate with bipartisan support, and through the House Executive Committee. And that is how

after an extraordinarily active summer recess, we passed the bill through the full state House.

While the fight for marriage was our highest profile work, with EQIL earning coast-to-coast coverage

including in The New York Times, we continued to focus on other issues impacting individuals and

families in our community. From our Penny Wise, Equality Strong program through

our Transgender Leadership Council, we grew or launched programs engaging,

educating, and empowering our community.

The stories and data in this FY2013 Annual Report are proof that when we come

together, nothing is impossible. At every step, our members, supporters, partners,

and allies led the way to historic successes. And just as you have gotten us this

far, we will need your active support in order to get to the finish line.

Thank you for all that you do for us.

Chief Executive Officer

P.S. This report reflects on our activity during FY2013, which lasted from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013

ANNUAL REPORT FYI3 3


DEKALB

ELMHURST

EVANSTON

GLEN ELLYN

GRAYSLAKE

HINSDALE

JOLIET

LA GRANGE

LEMONT

LIBERTYVILLE

signed

STATEWIDE

legislation

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS

coordinated pro-equality faith action

signed

AURORA


BELLEVILLE

support

and rallied support

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL

and rallied support

CARBONDALE

CARPENTERSVILLE

CHAMPAIGN-URBANA

Where We’ve Been... What We’ve Done


MANHATTAN


MAYWOOD


NAPERVILLE

postcards signed


NORTHBROOK

OAK LAWN

OAK PARK

PALATINE

PEORIA

QUAD CITIES

RIVERSIDE


ROCKFORD

ROMEOVILLE

SCHAUMBURG


SPRINGFIELD

Fair

ST. CHARLES


VILLA PARK


WAUKEGAN


WESTMONT

WHEATON

WILMETTE

Where We’ve Been... What We’ve Done

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

CHICAGO

Illinois, the Illinois Unites for Marriage coalition to

Pride Parade

Social at Mayne Stage

agenda

youth and connect participants with opportunities

signed

to publically support lesbian, gay, bisexual and

and coordinated pro-equality faith action

WASHINGTON D.C.

legislation

House


POWER OF THE

PEOPLE powerful.

YOU.

and creating and leading the Illinois Unites for Marriage coalition effort.

And these are only highlights…

powerful.

Caroline Staerk

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!!!!!!!!!

FY2013 began with the “I Do” support marriage equality campaign underway. By June 2013, over 12,000 postcards were signed by supporters all around the state, and then sorted by legislative district for distribution to lawmakers.

Equality Illinois ran scores of phone banks throughout the state, where volunteers contacted supportive residents and urged them to contact their legislators. Here, state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz stopped in to thank the callers and made a few calls herself.

A multi-denominational group of clergy from all parts of Illinois spoke at a state Capitol press conference organized by Equality Illinois, where they called on lawmakers to pass the marriage bill.

“Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson (second from left) and his now-husband Justin Mikita (left) lobbied in the state Capitol for the marriage bill with EQIL’s Caroline Staerk and Randy Hannig and clergy supporter Rev. Kim Beckmann.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel discussed marriage bill strategy with EQIL CEO Bernard Cherkasov, chief House sponsor Rep. Greg Harris and Senate sponsor Sen. Heather Steans, state Rep. Deb Mell and state Rep. Kelly Cassidy

Equality Illinois led and participated in rallies, such as this one in front of the office of state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Advocating in Springfield were EQIL Public Policy Director Randy Hannig, Rev. Kim Beckmann, EQIL Field Director Caroline Staerk, PFLAG parent Bonnie Garneau and EQIL CEO Bernard Cherkasov

EQIL Field Director Caroline Staerk delivers thousands of “I Do” support marriage equality postcards to the Capitol offices of Illinois state representatives.

EQIL member & super-volunteer, Second Class Petty Officer Lee Reinhart, makes calls to State Representatives in support of the marriage bill from Afghanistan!

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

!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!


THOUSAND WORDSAs the marriage campaign heated up, couples shared their wedding pictures to demonstrate that this was about real people who are denied rights, benefits and recognition.

EQIL CEO Bernard Cherkasov addresses the Capitol rally on May 31 before the House adjourned

At the Chicago Pride Parade, Equality Illinois shared its Fight Back for Love campaign and the message carried in many parade units from our Illinois Unites for Marriage coalition, “We are Committed to Winning the Freedom to Marry.”

A bright spot on the marriage front was the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Another community meeting was held at the Chicago Urban League, led by a panel that included EQIL Field Director Caroline Staerk and Roderick Hawkins of the Urban League.

The day after the House failed to vote, Equality Illinois launched its Fight Back for Love campaign. (photos courtesy beckermedia.com)

After the House failed to act on the marriage bill, Equality Illinois went to work to expand and reinvigorate the effort. Here, Equality Illinois field associate Charlie Rice-Minoso talks to a community meeting in Belleville.

Working in Springfield with the House sponsor of the marriage bill. (l-r) EQIL’s Caroline Staerk, Rep. Greg Harris, EQIL’s Randy Hannig, EQIL’s Bernard Cherkasov

Praying

and congregations across the state, laying the foundation for strengthening their

equality.

the

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FOR EQUALITY, SPREADING THE GOOD WORD

T H E R E L I G I O U S C A S E F O R T H E FREEDOM TO MARRYE Q U A L J U S T I C E U N D E R L A W

local artists.

SC RING WINS FOR EQUALITY

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TRANSFORMINGEQUALITY

transgender-friendly policies continue to flourish

Penny Wise, Equality Strong

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EQUALITYA in

TY

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ACTIONin

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Bills Bills Bills

Equality Illinois has a four-person bipartisan

has been dedicated to passage of the Religious

In total, Equality Illinois lobbied on twenty-two separate pieces of federal and state legislation last

H.R. 2523, S. 1236

H.R. 1755, S. 815

of sexual orientation or gender identity. If the

on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions with a

Senate Bill 2369

Senate Bill 10

and awaits action on House floor.

HJRCA6 and SJRCA8

House Bill 61

House Bill 976/Senate Bills 1393, 1682, 1685

which could create a larger burden for transgender

ANNUAL REPORT FYI3

TO HAVE TO HOLD

STATE AND FEDERAL MOVEMENTS ON MARRIAGE

Illinois Unites for Marriage coalition, and we were off. After

and we had a great deal of success telling our stories and

efforts to scare legislators with lies and distortions about

slipped away, especially after our opponents continually

Windsor/Perry

released its rulings in two cases concerning the United

questioned the constitutionality of the Hollingsworth

In the

In the Perry

State movements

Island, and Minnesota passed bills that would extend

so will Illinois.

&

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throughout Illinois, including this one

Southern Illinoisan newspaper

EVERYWHEREHere, There,

ILLINOIS CLERGY MEMBERS SUPPORT

SAMESEX MARRIAGE IN

LETTER SIGNED BY 260

December 23, 2012

January 14, 2013

Business leaders come

out in support of gay

marriage in

Illinois

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The Road Ahead

Our journey is far from over. Join us as we:

those rights

1

23

4

5

6

7


Penny Wise, Equality Strong

In partnership with the City of Chicago’s Treasurer’s Offi ce and Chase Bank, Equality Illinois launched a new initiative to educate select groups within the LGBT community through a series of fi nancial literacy workshops open to the community and free of charge. Too many LGBT community members face severe economic hardship resulting from social discrimination and legal inequalities, and this program aims to provide helpful tools to impacted individuals.

The goal of these workshops is to provide fi nancial knowledge to different segments of the LGBT community and empower them by providing resources that can help them achieve fi nancial security. Moderated by personal fi nance experts from Chase, classes guide attendees through the fundamentals of banking, managing checking and savings accounts, personal budgeting, banking basics, and credit/debt management.

By working with community partners and holding these workshops in diverse neighborhoods throughout the city, we are able to provide these benefi cial and often overlooked services to different audiences within our community.


2 0 I 3Gala

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Rights responsibilities under state and federal law.

the educational series was designed to be a one-stop shop for anyone

KNOW RIGHTS:your LGBT

EQUALITY IN

ILLINOIS

MARRIAGE RECOGNITION

AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL

if you have other questions that have

not been addressed in this brochure.

lives can be difficult for anyone,

but knowing exactly how the law

affects the rights of LGBT citizens

can be even more confusing.

Equality Illinois presents a series of

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


EQUALITY IN

ILLINOIS

HOUSING


EQUALITY IN

ILLINOIS

SAFE SCHOOLS

if you have other questions that have

not been addressed in this brochure.

KNOW RIGHTS:

your LGBT

EQUALITY IN

ILLINOIS

EMPLOYMENT

KNOW RIGHTS:

your LGBT

EQUALITY IN

ILLINOIS

IMMIGRATION


EQUALITY IN

ILLINOIS

TRANSGENDER ISSUES

KNOW RIGHTS:

your LGBT

EQUALITY IN

ILLINOIS

HEALTH SERVICES

your


Walter Naegle, Partner of Civil Rights Leader Bayard Rustin

Evan Wolfson, Founder & President of Freedom to Marry

Cheri Bustos, U.S. Congresswoman, Illinois’ 17th District

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

BRIEFING SERIES


Thank You!

ANONYMOUS

SUSTAINER

ANONYMOUS


ARTHUR PARIS

HON. HEATHER STEANS

HON. TOM TUNNEY


Exelon

Hearty Restaurant

Merrill Lynch

Moet Hennessy USA

SaginSawbridge Studios LtdSchiff HardinSeyfarth ShawSidley Austin

United Airlines

Alphawood Foundation

Sidley Austin FoundationTawani Foundation

Eli Teas


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Fire Island PinesFireside Restaurant

Hadley Rue

Hearty Restaurant

Honeywell

John E. HesslingJonathan AdlerJulie Schneider

Lincolnshire Mariott

Loretta Julian

Matthew Lew Fine Art

Michael Leppen

Nicole Quaisser

Northlight Theatre

Porchlight Music Theatre

Rachel Northway

Sensible Organics

Sutton Studios

Tesori

The Fix

The Land of Nod

The Peace SchoolThe Peninsula

United

ANNUAL REPORT FYI3

YOUR DOLLAR$ AT WORK FOR EQUALITY

In the fiscal year 2013, Equality Illinois…

OPENED TWO CAMPAIGN FIELD OFFICES IN SPRINGFIELD AND WESTMONT AND HIRED TWO FIELD ORGANIZERS WHO ENGAGED SUBURBAN AND

DOWNSTATE ILLINOISANS TO EXPAND OUR OUTREACH WORK

REGISTERED AND EDUCATED VOTERS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE 2012 ELECTIONS, WHICH SAW HISTORIC GAINS FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY

DEFENDED AGAINST ATTACKS ON OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DEFEATED FOUR SEPARATE PIECES OF LEGISLATION REQUIRING VOTERS TO PRESENT A VALID VOTER ID

CARD THAT WOULD CREATE A BURDEN ON TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS

PARTNERED WITH MAJOR EMPLOYERS AND LAW FIRMS ACROSS THE STATE TO ENCOURAGE MORE LGBT-INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN THE WORKPLACE

LAUNCHED A FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO TREASURER’S OFFICE AND CHASE TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER LGBT

COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO FACE ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES

STRENGTHENED BONDS WITH INTEGRAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDING IMMIGRANT, LABOR, AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL LGBT GROUPS STATEWIDE

ESTABLISHED A $500,000 “FIGHT BACK FOR LOVE” CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE PASSAGE OF THE FREEDOM TO MARRY IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE

FOUNDED THE ILLINOIS UNITES FOR MARRIAGE COALITION WITHLAMBDA LEGAL AND ACLU TO WIN THE FREEDOM TO MARRY IN ILLINOIS

DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 12,000 MARRIAGE EQUALITY POSTCARDS AS OF JUNE 2013 TO LAWMAKERS SHOWING CONSTITUENT SUPPORT IN EVERY SENATE &

HOUSE DISTRICT IN ILLINOIS FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

COLLECTED OVER 500 SIGNATURES FROM CLERGY MEMBERS AND LAY LEADERS IN SUPPORT OF THE FREEDOM TO MARRY THROUGH THE FAITH AND FREEDOM INITIATIVE

PASSED THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND MARRIAGE FAIRNESS ACT (SB10) THROUGH THE ILLINOIS SENATE AND ILLINOIS HOUSE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ORGANIZED THE FIRST EVER BOOTH DEDICATED TO LGBT EQUALITY AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR IN SPRINGFIELD

INCREASED GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR LGBT EQUALITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE

PUBLISHED FIVE CASES FOR THE FREEDOM TO MARRY WITH TARGETED, AUDIENCE SPECIFIC MESSAGING TO AFRICAN AMERICAN,

LATINO, REPUBLICAN, BUSINESS, AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Special Events

Programs& Education

FISCAL YEAR 2013

Total Revenues $1,272,468 100.0%

Total Expenses $1,017,979 100.0%

Individual Contributions

Special Events

Programs& Education Administrative

Fund

rais

ing

CorporateContributions

Foundations & Trusts


BERNARD CHERKASOVChief Executive Officer

ANGELO BARONEDirector of Finance & Administration

PATTY DILLONDirector of Field Operations

RANDY HANNIGDirector of Public Policy

MICHAEL NORDMANDirector of Development

MITCHELL LOCINCommunications Liaison

CHRIS HUARACHAOperations Manager

JOY CONKLINSpecial Events Associate

CHARLIE RICE-MINOSO Field Associate

MARET BANKSEquality Illinois Intern

EQUALITY ILLINOIS

STAFF

ANNUAL REPORT FYI3

DALILA FRIDIChair, Equality Illinois Education Project

JOHN PARROChair, Equality Illinois

Vice Chair, Equality Illinois Education Project

CATHERINE SIKORAVice Chair, Equality Illinois

MICHAEL JEFVERTTreasurer

ANTHONY D’AMATOSecretary, Equality Illinois Education Project

GRANT GOCHNAUERSecretary, Equality Illinois

YVETTE CHAVEZMICHAEL COLLINS

MARK COZZIJOAN DUCAYET

KEVIN HAUSWIRTHSTEPHEN S. HERSETH*

ARTHUR L. JOHNSTON*CHRISTINA KAHRL

WILL LOPEZDAVID ERNESTO MUNAR

MIKE SIMMONS

*EMERITUS

BOARD OF

DIRECTORS (As of July 1, 2013)

ANNUAL REPORT FYI3

equality illinois fy2013 annual report

Documents

i t y i

marriage equality campaign

fy2013 annual report

marriage bill

annual report fyi3dekalbu

active support

proequality faith actionui

equality strong program