Equality Illinois FY2013 Annual Report
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Transcript of Equality Illinois FY2013 Annual Report
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
4 ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
DEKALB
ELMHURST
EVANSTON
GLEN ELLYN
GRAYSLAKE
HINSDALE
JOLIET
LA GRANGE
LEMONT
LIBERTYVILLE
signed
STATEWIDE
legislation
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
coordinated pro-equality faith action
signed
AURORA
coordinated pro-equality faith action
BELLEVILLE
support
and rallied support
BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL
and rallied support
CARBONDALE
CARPENTERSVILLE
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA
Where We’ve Been... What We’ve Done
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3 5
MANHATTAN
coordinated pro-equality faith action
MAYWOOD
coordinated pro-equality faith action
NAPERVILLE
postcards signed
coordinated pro-equality faith action
NORTHBROOK
OAK LAWN
OAK PARK
PALATINE
PEORIA
QUAD CITIES
RIVERSIDE
coordinated pro-equality faith action
ROCKFORD
ROMEOVILLE
SCHAUMBURG
coordinated pro-equality faith action
SPRINGFIELD
Fair
ST. CHARLES
coordinated pro-equality faith action
VILLA PARK
coordinated pro-equality faith action
WAUKEGAN
coordinated pro-equality faith action
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
6 ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
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
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
!!!!!!!!!
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!
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
Equality Illinois co-organized the May 31 rally in the Illinois Capitol before the House adjourned without taking a vote.
!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3 9
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
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
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
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
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.
&
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
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
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
The Road Ahead
Our journey is far from over. Join us as we:
those rights
1
23
4
5
6
7
20 ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
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.
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3 13
2 0 I 3Gala
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
KNOW RIGHTS:your LGBT
EQUALITY IN
ILLINOIS
HOUSING
KNOW RIGHTS:your LGBT
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
KNOW RIGHTS:your LGBT
EQUALITY IN
ILLINOIS
TRANSGENDER ISSUES
KNOW RIGHTS:
your LGBT
EQUALITY IN
ILLINOIS
HEALTH SERVICES
your
22 ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
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
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3 23
Exelon
Hearty Restaurant
Merrill Lynch
Moet Hennessy USA
SaginSawbridge Studios LtdSchiff HardinSeyfarth ShawSidley Austin
United Airlines
Alphawood Foundation
Sidley Austin FoundationTawani Foundation
Eli Teas
26 ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3
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
ANNUAL REPORT FYI3 29
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