Important Update
Success in Efforts to Reform of Illinois’ Failed and Discredited Death Penalty System!

Disappointing News on Extending Basic Rights to Gays,

Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgender Persons in Illinois

November 20, 2003
Dear ACLU of Illinois Action Alert Member,

We are pleased to report a significant victory in the Illinois House! Yesterday afternoon, the Illinois House followed the lead of the Illinois Senate and overrode Governor Blagojevich’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 472, assuring that critical reform of the failed and discredited death penalty system in Illinois becomes law immediately. The vote on the override motion was 115 in favor and none opposed – a sweeping victory. We thank all the members of the Action Alert Team who called their Representatives and Senators and urged them to vote for this important legislation.

Senate Bill 472 includes many of the proposals recommended by the Governor's Commission on Capital Punishment, including: compelling police to produce exculpatory information in homicide cases; mandating a pre-trial process to test the veracity of "informant" or "jailhouse snitch" testimony; and, banning the execution of persons who are mentally ill. After the session, Governor Blagojevich used his amendatory veto authority to delete a provision that created a penalty for false testimony by police officers in homicide cases.

Also concurring with action in the Senate, the House also gave overwhelming approval to an amendment to House Bill 576 – language that forms an agreement addressing the Governor’s concerns and those expressed by law enforcement about Senate Bill 472. Under the agreement, the hearings to decide whether a police officer charged with having lied during death penalty cases now will involve three state agencies, rather than the one agency originally proposed in Senate Bill 472.

On a discouraging note, we must unhappily report that Senate Bill 101, a measure that would have amended the Illinois Human Rights Act to provide basic protections in employment, housing, banking and credit, and public accommodations for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons in Illinois. Despite heroic efforts by ACLU members and leaders and our allies in seeking basic fairness, Senate Bill 101 remained a few critical votes short of passage – so the Senate leadership determined not to call it for a final vote. We will not, however, be dissuaded. We will continue to work with supporters of this measure in both houses of the General Assembly to seek passage of the measure in the Spring 2004 legislative session. We thank all of you who have contacted your state representatives and state senators on this important issue. We will, one day, be able to celebrate passage of this measure and you should be proud to have been part of the movement!

Thank you –
You action can make a difference!