Legislation now before the Illinois House of Representatives would give state judges the authority to determine whether or not to try juveniles as adults. Current Illinois laws allow prosecutors to automatically transfer juveniles, suspected of committing serious crimes, to adult court to face criminal charges. The ACLU of Illinois consistently maintains that trying youth in adult court has significant negative effects on public safety. The Daily Journal’s opinion piece by John Maki, of the John Howard Association, points out that the decision to charge a seventeen year old, accused of committing a violent crime, as an adult should be decided in court by a judge considering all the details of the case, rather than in the private offices of prosecutors. Maki sites studies which reveal racial disparities that stem from prosecutors’ application of automatic transfers. He argues that Illinois laws should be amended to give youth offenders the opportunity to:

“[...]tell their story before a judge, who can then weigh the need to protect public safety alongside relevant facts about their lives and then determine whether it's appropriate to try them as a juvenile or an adult.”

Read the entire article via The Kankakee Daily Journal.

By: Chris Tanner

Ten years ago in March, Lisa and I were first in line when Multnomah County issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples. We married immediately in our church, with our ministers, blessed with the presence of friends.

Ten years ago in November, voters approved Measure 36, an amendment to our state constitution denying the freedom to marry to Oregon's same-sex couples. Shortly thereafter, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled our marriage invalid.

Lisa and I took down the framed marriage license from our wall.

Much has changed over the last decade. A majority of Americans now support the freedom to marry, including 55 percent of Oregon voters. In 17 states and D.C., all loving couples can marry, and Oregon now recognizes those out of state marriages. But I still cannot legally marry Lisa in the state we call home.

We want to get married because we have loved and cared for each other for over 30 years; we have raised two wonderful children together; and because marriage is an important milestone for us.

Today, the ACLU is in federal court in Oregon to fight for the principle that no one should be subjected to discrimination merely because of who they are and who they love. Our opponents are trying to slow down or stop the march toward freedom, but the ACLU is there fighting for all of us – and I am proud that Lisa and I are part of this court case fighting for our family. And, though it has been a long journey, history is on our side.
 

Cross posted from The Blog of Rights. 

With over two decades of service to Latta, South Carolina openly-gay Police Chief Crystal Moore enjoyed a controversy-free record until a new mayor set out to fire her. Within months of taking office, Mayor Earl Bullard issued seven reprimands against Moore, all within the same day, and fired her. South Carolina has no laws against LGBT job discrimination. The ACLU across the country and the ACLU of Illinois advocates and litigates against LGBT discrimination and the destructive, cruel humiliation Police Chief Moore was subjected to by an ignorant boss.  What happened to Moore can happen anywhere without civil rights protections:

All it takes is a change in leadership, and any employer can suddenly take advantage of the lack of LGBT employment protections in their state. While some seem to think that the gay rights movement is mounting witch hunts against those it brands homophobic bigots, cases like Crystal Moore’s remind us that for most the battle remains one for simple equality.

Read the entire article.
Take action: Tell your U.S. House Representative to co-sponsor ENDA.