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.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents will have more options when it comes to affordable housing through cooperative housing developments, thanks to State Senator Mike Simmons’ legislation that was signed into law.

“This law will create a Cooperative Housing Fund, which is an important step to ensuring everyone has access to affordable housing,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Housing is a human right, and living in good, decent, and stable housing is an option everyone should have.

This law will promote cooperative housing, a form of housing where entities own the residential building, but its residents are shareholders of the entity. Cooperative housing provides a viable alternative to homeownership for low- to middle-income earners who may not be able to buy a home, while adding a key affordable housing option to those who need it.

The Cooperative Housing Fund will be used by the Illinois Housing Development Authority to award up to $5 million in grants to organizations developing cooperative housing for residents with an income less than or equal to the median income within the municipality.

“Having a place to call your own and develop into a home is important for individuals and those who are raising a family,” Simmons said. “Cooperative housing is a great way to build community and foster a sense of stability for those needing housing. It also helps ensure that rapidly changing communities remain diverse and accessible to all.”

Senate Bill 1484 was signed into law on Friday and goes into effect immediately.