* Press release…

Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) announced on Friday additional appointments to the Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention.

“In making these appointments, it is important to bring both diversity and an outside perspective to how best address this important issue in the public and private sectors,” said Brady. “I want to commend those who are willing to serve on this Task Force, and I look forward to working with them when their recommendations are presented.”

As part of the Task Force’s composition, each Senate leader will make 12 appointments. On Nov. 13, Brady announced his five legislator appointments. The remaining seven appointees announced Nov. 17 are comprised of statewide associations that represent women or work to advance civil rights (2) and members of the public (5).

The two members from statewide associations that represent women or work to advance civil rights are:

* Ahlam Jbara – Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
* Dr. Kathleen Robbins – Equality Illinois

The five members of the public include:

* Maria Rodriguez – Former Mayor of Long Grove
* Maureen Maffei – Attorney, Ice Miller
* Julie Proscia – Attorney, Smith Admundsen
* Anita Rodriguez – Assistant State’s Attorney, Adams County
* TBD – Awaiting final confirmation

The goal of the new Task Force is to conduct a comprehensive review of legal and social consequences of sexual discrimination and harassment in both the public and private sectors. The Task Force will study and make recommendations on combating sexual discrimination and harassment in workplaces, educational institutions, and in State and local government.

Members of the Task Force will not receive compensation for their service and will submit a report to the General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2018.

Dr. Robbins is a Vietnam veteran and is transgender. Jbara is a Muslim. Those are not the sort of picks you’d normally expect from a conservative Republican like Leader Brady, so good for him.

…Adding… Press release…

Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state’s LGBTQ civil rights organization

We applaud the appointment of Dr. Kathleen Robbins by Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady to the Illinois Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention. Kathleen is an excellent addition to the task force. She has significant life experiences, from service in the U.S. Air Force, the business sector, and the non-profit space, and is a member of the Equality Illinois Community Advisory Group.

We thank Leader Brady for appointing Kathleen and for ensuring an inclusive discussion of the impact of sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination in Illinois.

Indeed, it is essential that the voices of LGBTQ people, especially transgender individuals, be included in these discussion and deliberations. According to the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey of more than 27,000 transgender respondents from across the United States, 47% have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime. Furthermore, 10% were sexually assaulted in the year preceding the survey.

In Illinois, 13% of individuals who are out or perceived to be transgender report being sexually assaulted in their K-12 schools because of their gender identity. And, among transgender Illinoisans who saw a health care provider in the year preceding the survey, 33% report having at least one negative experience related to being transgender. For some respondents, that included being physically or sexually assaulted.

The prevalence and impact of sexual violence on transgender people are problems that must be acknowledged and addressed. We call on the task force, the Illinois General Assembly, and Governor Rauner to propose and act on robust policy proposals to ensure the dignity of women and LGBTQ people and to build a better Illinois.