CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons, the first and only openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the Illinois Senate, spoke out against recent attacks against the LGBTQ+ community — both local and national — along with other elected officials, community activists, business leaders and advocacy groups at a press conference today in Rogers Park.

“As the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the Illinois Senate, it is important to me that we lift up community voices in response to the wave of hate and vicious attacks we’ve seen targeting LGBTQ+ communities all across the nation,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Today we bring into focus that there have already been more than 500 punitive pieces of legislation introduced in state legislatures targeting our LGBTQ+ communities this year, with nearly 100 signed into law, that bar trans youth from participating in athletics, curtail and outlaw abortion rights, outlaw gender-affirming care and discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 classrooms, and ban books containing LGBTQ+ protagonists in schools. Today our elected leaders and community members take space to stand for LGBTQ+ human rights, call out these horrendous attacks, and give community members a place to share their thoughts about what we need to do next. We are fed up and will not stand for hateful attacks on the LGBTQ+ community any longer. We are fighting back.”

The event was held in Chicago with elected officials, and leaders from local businesses and advocacy groups speaking, including: Sen. Simmons; State Representative Kevin Olickal; Alderpersons Angela Clay (46th Ward), Matt Martin (47th Ward), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th Ward) and Maria Hadden (49th Ward); Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita; Timothy Jackson with the Aids Foundation of Chicago; Stephanie Skora with Brave Space Alliance; Missy Perkins with Paint The City; Paul Ruffino with Rattleback Records; Anthony Galloway with Lorde, Rustin & Bates; comedian, writer, and activist KJ Whitehead; Silas Leslie with the Chicago Therapy Collective; Gregory Gross with Care for Real; Hallie Borden with Milk Hand Made + Honey Bridal; Andrew Miller and Lorraine Hayes with Test Positive Aware Network; and Searah Deysach with Early to Bed/Trans Essentials.

Senator Simmons has been known to aggressively push back against transphobic comments used in floor debate on the state Senate floor. He has also secured passage of and co-led numerous bills protecting LGBTQ+ communities including a bill that protects marriage equality and access to gender-affirming care in Illinois. This press conference was a continuation of his fight for the rights of trans-youth and all members of the LGBTQ+ community, giving elected leaders and community members the space to stand for LGBTQ+ human rights, call out these horrendous attacks, and give community members a place to share their thoughts about what needs to be done next.

“Everyone deserves to live a life true to who they are,” Simmons said. “These new laws and bills across the nation are a despicable and coordinated attack on the basic human rights of LGBTQ+ and queer communities. These new laws deny millions of people the right to live their life authentically. We have seen enough and we will fight tooth and nail to build on the progress and rights LGBTQ+ communities have secured in recent years. We will never go back in the closet. No way.”

For those who missed the event, a live stream of the press conference is available on Senator Simmons‘ Facebook page.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons will host a press conference during the month of Pride to bring together local elected officials, LGBTQ+ community leaders, small business owners, and advocates to respond to hateful recent attacks - both local and national - against the LGBTQ+ community. The press conference will include remarks from elected officials and community members.

“The far north side of Chicago is home to a vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Yet, our community has come under vicious attack in recent months. As the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the Illinois Senate, it is important to me that we lift up community voices in response to the wave of hate we’ve seen,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). 

• At the state level, I have aggressively pushed back against transphobic comments used in floor debate on the state Senate floor.  
• Nationally there have already been more than 500 pieces of legislation introduced in state legislatures in 2023, with nearly 100 signed into law, that bar trans youth from participating in athletics, curtail and outlaw abortion rights, outlaw gender-affirming care and discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 classrooms, and ban books containing LGBTQ+ protagonists in schools. 
• This press conference will give elected leaders and community members space to stand for LGBTQ+ human rights, call out these horrendous attacks, and give community members a place to share their thoughts about what we need to do next.

WHO: Elected officials including State Senator Mike Simmons, State Representative Kevin Olickal, Alderpersons Angela Clay (46^th Ward), Matt Martin (47^th Ward), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48^th Ward), Maria Hadden (49^th Ward), and Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita. Representatives from local businesses and advocacy organizations including Timothy Jackson with the Aids Foundation of Chicago, Stephanie Skora with Brave Space Alliance; Myles Brady-Davis with Equality Illinois, Missy Perkins with Paint The City; Paul Ruffino with Rattleback Records; Anthony Galloway with Lorde, Rustin & Bates; comedian, writer, and activist KJ Whitehead; Silas Leslie with the Chicago Therapy Collective; Gregory Gross with Care for Real; Hallie Borden with Milk Hand Made + Honey Bridal; Andrew Miller and Lorraine Hayes with Test Positive Aware Network; and Searah Deysach with Early to Bed/Trans Essentials

WHAT: Press conference on Pride Month, LGBTQ+ rights and recent attacks on the community

WHEN: Friday, June 23, 12:00p.m.-1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Gerber/Hart Library & Archives, 6500 N. Clark St., second floor, Chicago. The event will also be streamed on Facebook live on Senator Simmons' account. 

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SPRINGFIELD – With attacks on same-sex couples and marriages on the rise across the nation, State Senator Mike Simmons successfully sponsored a law signed Friday to strengthen marriage equality for same-sex couples in Illinois.

“As the first openly gay senator in Illinois, protecting and strengthening same-sex marriage laws in this state is significant to who I am and what I fight for,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “I am proud to support legislation that protects same-sex marriages in Illinois and creates avenues for same-sex couples in other states coming to Illinois seeking those same protections.”

House Bill 1591 protects same sex marriages in Illinois by repealing the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution Act. This bill provides that same-sex couples can receive a marriage license in Illinois without requiring a signature from an official from their previous state. This will make it easier for same-sex couples who resided in other states to marry in Illinois.

“With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many are suspecting of the Supreme Court’s intentions regarding Obergefell v. Hodges, which protects marriage equality,” said Simmons. “This bill makes marriage equality stronger for Illinoisans and provides security to same-sex couples.”

House Bill 1591 was signed into law on Friday, June 9 and takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

 CHICAGO – In response to attacks on transgender individuals around the nation, State Senator Mike Simmons championed a law to increase inclusivity of gendered language in pre-existing state laws and initiatives.

“This law will ensure the language we use in state statutes and codes is more inclusive. Everyone deserves to be addressed and represented with the pronouns they use and prefer, especially by their state’s agencies and laws,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Encouraging inclusive language at the state level is an important step for people to feel safe and accepted by their government while attacks are raging against the LGBTQ+ community in other states.”

House Bill 1596 changes various public acts concerning children to contain more inclusive language, such as changing certain pronouns to general nouns or the nouns to which the pronouns refer, and replacing "biological" family or parent with "birth" family or parent.

“It is someone’s basic human right to be referred to by their preferred pronouns in everyday life,” Simmons said. “I am happy to see this bill being signed into law during the month of Pride, a time where we reaffirm our commitment to making sure everyone is seen, heard and respected.”

House Bill 1596 was signed into law on Friday, June 9 and goes into effect on Aug. 8, 2023.