Every day, LGBTQ youth across the nation fear what the future holds for them in the United States.

Right now President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are seeking to rollback so many hard-won civil rights victories -- everything from marriage equality to employment non-discrimination protections.

Already we've seen a wave of anti-LGBTQ executive orders from the Trump administration, most of which are designed to curtail the rights of underprivileged Americans, even erasing their contributions from history.

Our future generations deserve a safe haven where they can grow and thrive. Together we can afford LGBTQ youth the promise of a brighter future in a city that respects and appreciates them for who they are.

Why Champaign, Illinois?

Both the City of Champaign and the State of Illinois have long paved the way for LGBTQ rights in the midwest.

• Illinois was the first state to repeal its sodomy laws and decriminalize acts of homosexuality between consenting adults in 1962.
• The Gay Illini Resource Center opened at the Urbana-Champaign campus YMCA in 1976.
• The Gay Switchboard, a crisis intervention hotline for lesbian and gay University of Illinois students, was launched in 1976.
• Urbana was the second city in the nation to institute a gay rights ordinance in 1976, followed by Champaign one year later.
• Both Urbana and Champaign recognized transsexual status as a protected characteristic in their respective ordinances.
• The U of I Board of Trustees adopted a resolution in 1987 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
• Former Champaign Mayor McCollum and former Urbana Mayor Markland declared June 28, 1989 as Lesbian and Gay Pride Day.

And indeed, our state already has a proven track-record of protecting and affirming gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming citizens of Illinois.

• In 1991, Illinois enacted legislation to prosecute hate crimes that were motivated by either perceived or actual sexual orientation.
• In 2006, Illinois enacted legislation to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, employment, and public accommodations.
• In 2014, Illinois enacted legislation mandating stronger school policies to curb bullying against LGBTQ students.
• In 2015, Illinois enacted legislation to formally include gender identity bias in its existing hate crime statute.
• In 2015, Illinois enacted legislation banning conversion therapy by mental health practitioners on minors.
• In 2017, Illinois enacted legislation to bar the gay-panic defense in cases of first or second degree murder.
• In 2019, Illinois enacted legislation to designate all single occupancy restrooms in the state as gender neutral by the following year.
• In 2019, Illinois enacted legislation requiring that all public schools in the state incorporate LGBTQ history into their curriculum.
• In 2019, Governor Pritzker signed an executive order directing the Board of Education to increase support for gender diversity.
• In 2020, Illinois became the first midwest state to enact legislation to afford a gender neutral "X" option on birth certificates.

According to Wikipedia, "Illinois is seen as one of the most progressive states in the U.S. in regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights and often viewed as one of the most liberal states in the Midwestern United States."

Champaign, Illinois has also been recognized for 13 consecutive years by the Human Rights Campaign for its inclusive laws, policies, and services, earning the City a perfect score on the 2024 Municipal Equality Index.

According to Mayor Feinen, “The City of Champaign is honored to once again receive a perfect score in this year’s Municipal Equality Index. The City Council and I are committed to ensuring Champaign remains a welcoming and safe place for our valued LGBTQ+ community members."

What is an LGBTQ sanctuary city?

LGBTQ sanctuary cities provide a safe haven for families and individuals whom are unfairly targetted by federal and state laws and policies that threaten to undermine their fundamental civil liberties on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Sanctuary status therefore affirms the City's and the State's ongoing commitment to ending discrimination in employment, healthcare, education, housing, and public accommodations while providing refuge for out-of-state LGBTQ residents seeking necessary HIV treatment, gender-affirming care, and reproductive care.

How common are LGBTQ+ sanctuary cities?

Over two dozen cities across the nation have already declared sanctuary status with many more passing ordinances in the wake of the 2024 Presidential Election.

• Athens, OH
• Austin, TX
• Baltimore, MD
• Boston, MA
• Cambridge, MA
• Columbia, MO
• Corvallis, OR
• Erie, PA
• Greenfield, MA
• Ithaca, NY
• Kansas City, MO
• Lake Worth Beach, FL
• Lawrence, KS
• Long Beach, CA
• Los Angeles, CA
• Madison, WI
• New York City, NY
• Northampton, MA
• North Adams, MA
• Olympia, WA
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Pittsfield, MA
• Sacramento, CA
• State College, PA
• Tacoma, WA
• West Hollywood, CA
• Wilton Manors, FL
• Worcester, MA

Please sign the petition to designate Champaign, Illinois as a sanctuary city for LGBTQ+ families.