FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 3, 2012

For more information, please contact: Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality , at 312-520-4919 or Randy Hannig, Director of Public Policy of , at 773-477-7173

EQUALITY ILLINOIS PAC ISSUES EARLY ENDORSEMENTS FOR KEY LEGISLATIVE ALLIES POLITICAL ACTION – The Equality Illinois Political Action Committee (PAC) today issued its early endorsements of legislative candidates running for office in the March 20, 2012 primary election who COMMITTEE have strong voting records on , gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues.

Mailing Address 3712 N. Broadway “We really wanted to rush out of the gate early with our endorsements because these stakeholders PMB 125 have been the strongest supporters of the LGBT movement here in Illinois,” Jeremy Gottschalk, Chicago, IL 60613 President of Equality Illinois PAC Board of Directors, said. “We want to make sure that those legislators who have repeatedly supported us in the past have the opportunity to take advantage of Phone 773-477-7173 the benefits that our PAC endorsement involves as quickly as possible. They have proven themselves Fax to be great allies to the LGBT community, and we want to thank them publicly for their support.” 773-477-6912 E-mail [email protected] ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR STATE SENATE: Web Sen. Antonio Munoz (D-1) Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-19) www.eqil.org Sen. William Delgado (D-2) Sen. Iris Martinez (D-20) Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-3) Sen. Michael Noland (D-22)

Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-4) Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-28) Sen. Annazette Collins (D-5) Sen. Terry Link (D-30)

Sen. (D-6) Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-36)

Sen. (D-7) Sen. Don Harmon (D-39) Sen. John Mulroe (D-10) Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-40) Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-11) Sen. Linda Holmes (D-42) Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-13) Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi (D-43) Sen. Emil Jones, III (D-14) Sen. David Koehler (D-46) Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-16) Sen. Michael Frerichs (D-52) Sen. Donne Trotter (D-17) Sen. James Clayborne, Jr. (D-57)

ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Rep. Daniel Burke (D-1) Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-32) Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-2) Rep. Marlow Colvin (D-33) Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-3) Rep. Al Riley (D-38) Rep. (D-4) Rep. (D-39) Rep. Kenneth Dunkin (D-5) Rep. Deborah Mell (D-40) Rep. Esther Golar (D-6) Rep. Keith Farnham (D-43) Rep. (D-8) Rep. (D-44) Rep. (D-12) Rep. Rosemary Mulligan (R-55) Rep. Greg Harris (D-13) Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-57) Rep. (D-14) Rep. (D-59) Rep. (D-16) Rep. Jack Franks (D-63) Rep. (D-18) Rep. Angelo Saviano (R-77) Rep. Michael J. Madigan (D-22) Rep. (D-78) Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-23) Rep. Anthony DeLuca (D-80) Rep. (D-24) Rep. Emily McAsey (D-85) Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-25) Rep. Jack McGuire (D-86) Rep. Monique Davis (D-27) Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-92) Rep. (D-28) Rep. (D-103) Rep. William Davis (D-30) Former Rep. (D-113) Rep. Mary Flowers (D-31) Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. (D-114)

The next round of legislative endorsements for open races will be announced mid-February and will be based on candidates’ answers to Equality Illinois PAC’s endorsement questionnaire and in-person interviews.

Equality Illinois was founded in 1991 to secure, protect and defend full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. It is the state’s oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization.

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