This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, finding that it imposed an unconstitutional restriction on access to the procedure.

The below statement can be attributed to Ameri Klafeta, Director of the Women’s and Reproductive Rights Project, ACLU of Illinois: 

“In today’s decision, the Supreme Court justly rejected abortion opponents’ political maneuverings meant to test the Court’s willingness to reverse its own recent holding preserving abortion access. There should be no confusion – the hospital admitting privileges at issue in the Louisiana, just like those in the Texas law that the Court considered just a few years ago, do nothing to advance safety or quality for those seeking reproductive health care, including abortion care. The goal simply was to end access to abortion care in Louisiana, and push the Supreme Court to allow more draconian restrictions in other states. 

It is comforting to know that in the face of these dangerous political gambits our Illinois legislators ensured that access to all reproductive health care, including abortion care, is a fundamental right. Illinois will not allow our residents to fall victim to some politicians’ cruel attempts to control their medical decisions. Abortion care is basic health care that is available in this state. That remains unchanged by today’s decision.”
 

Today, the Pritzker administration announced it had released legal guidance that affirms Illinois nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
 
The below statement can be attributed to John Knight, LGBTQ & HIV Advocacy Director, ACLU of Illinois:
 
“We congratulate Governor Pritzker and his Administration for reinforcing their commitment to assuring that all Illinois residents have access to the health care they need, including LGBTQ residents. The specific inclusion of gender-affirming surgery for those insured through Illinois’ Medicaid program is especially welcome.
 
As the Trump Administration continues in its efforts to deny health care and basic dignity to people who are transgender, Illinois is embracing and respecting the dignity of all Illinoisans. No one should be turned away by health care providers or denied the care they need because they are LGBTQ.”

Earlier today, a unanimous panel of the Illinois Appellate Court for the Second District lifted an order mandating the McHenry County Public Health Department to share information about residents of the County who test positive for COVID-19 with law enforcement and other first responders. The ACLU of Illinois recently filed an amicus brief in this matter on behalf of the League of United Latin American Citizens of Illinois (LULAC), the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group (HMPRG). The ACLU of Illinois and LULAC issued the following statements in response to the ruling:
 
Ameri Klafeta, Women’s and Reproductive Rights Project Director, ACLU of Illinois:
“The appellate court’s action today stops a violation of privacy and advances public health. Public health officials have been clear that stigmatizing people by including them on law enforcement and other first responder lists discourages testing and treatment. The ruling paves the way for everyone in McHenry County to be tested and seek treatment for COVID-19. This is our pathway out of the pandemic.” 
 
Maggie Rivera, Illinois State Director, LULAC:
“This will be met as a great relief by undocumented families and families with mixed immigration status – with U.S. citizens, legal residents and undocumented individuals all under the same roof – in McHenry County.  Many of these people already live in fear a loved one being swept up in an immigration raid. They should not fear seeking medical care.”