[Imc-newsroom] Local Gay Rights Activists Arrested in Springfield

[Danielle Chynoweth]

I just got a call from Cindy Mann, Sehvilla Mann's mother.
I posted this article to urbana.indymedia.org.
I also sent it to the News Gazette.

- danielle


 Local Gay Rights Activists Arrested in Springfield
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Police arrested a number of protestors from the 85% Coalition who were in
Springfield today insisting on the addition of sexual orientation to the
Illinois Human Rights Act.

Those arrested include fifteen year old Sehvilla Mann who was standing
off to the side of the demonstration, but was arrested because she was
chanting with the demonstrators.  Sehvilla is being held in custody while
her parents, who live in Urbana, drive to Springfield.

Currently in the state of Illinois people who are or are suspected of
being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT) can be denied
employment, a hotel room, and other serivces on the basis their actual
or suspected sexual orientation.

The anti-discrimination bill (HB 101) passed the Illinois House earlier
this year and needs to be passed in the Senate by the end of May or it
will die.

The 85% Coalition decided to demonstrate in the capitol every Wednesday
in May to pressure the Senate to support this anti-discrimination bill.

The Illinois Human Rights Act protects against discrimination against any
individual because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap,
military status, or unfavorable discharge from military service in
connection with employment, real estate transactions, access to financial
credit, and the availability of public accommodations.  Sexual orientation
is currently not a criteria in the act.

The 85% Coalition is a grass roots organization which takes their name
from the results of a statewide survey conducted in 1998 by the University
of Illinois at Springfield. When asked, "Do you think there should or
should not be equal rights for gay and lesbian people in terms of job
opportunities and housing" more than 85% of Illinois residents responded
that yes, equal rights should extend to gays and lesbians.

See www.designingsociety.org/85coalition for more details about the 85%
Coalition.


danielle chynoweth
indymedia reporter
urbana.indymedia.org