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Senate overwhelmingly backs Meeks appointment

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Illinois

* Just one Senator voted against the confirmation of former state Sen. James Meeks today. Equality Illinois isn’t happy…

Equality Illinois today denounced Rev. James Meeks’ confirmation as Chair of the Illinois State Board of Education, expressing frustration at his refusal to repudiate his discriminatory positions prior to his confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

Meeks has a long record of making hateful public comments about the LGBT community, and his active attempts to deny our families the freedom to marry are well known, as are his demeaning comments about women and members of the Latino, Asian and Jewish communities.

“We had hoped and expected Rev. Meeks to use the more than two months since his appointment to reflect on and make amends with the LGBT community and other groups for his hurtful and destructive actions,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest advocacy organization representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans.

“Instead, we’ve seen nothing tangible from him. We are obligated by our responsibility to LGBT Illinoisans, the other groups whom he offended and our allies to denounce his statements and his unwillingness and refusal to recognize them for the hate language that they are.

“Without a pledge from Meeks that he would abide by the state’s nondiscrimination and anti-bullying laws or a commitment to affirmatively challenge discriminatory actions in the schools, we are not assured that he will look out for all of Illinois’ school children,” Cherkasov said. “It is now up to the Rauner Administration, the General Assembly and the other members of the State Board of Education to ensure that Meeks’ wrong-headed views about the diversity of Illinois do not seep into education policy. Equality Illinois and our partners will remain vigilant, and we will work with our allies to ensure equal treatment for all Illinoisans.”

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 2:28 pm

Comments

Rev. Meeks was also Sen. Meeks at one point in his life.

Colleagues support colleagues. John Tower for Secretary of Defense is memorable at the National level because of the rarity it happens in that universe too.

Attention all groups who had “problems” with Rauner;

Rauner won. Rauner’s choice, Rauner chose a former Senate colleague to be given an “up or down” vote.

My only suggestion in this very specific instance, with this very specific appointee is to keep an eye firm this point on how he does the job. It’s all you have.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 2:36 pm
Kansas gets closer everyday.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 2:42 pm
The continuing demise of the Illinois public school system.

Comment by Buzzie Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 2:48 pm
How long before key positions at ISBE will be replaced?

Comment by Mama Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 2:49 pm
I hope Chris Koch is safe. He has been effective and consistent, unlike the five (soon to be six) directors of IBHE that have passed through during his tenure.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 2:52 pm
Willie, Tower was rejected by the Senate for sec of defense.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 2:53 pm
Last month I heard Chris Koch was definitely out come early March. It didn’t happen. In reality, I don’t know why he wants to stay. He has done an admirable job in an incredibly tough situation. Now I hear it is 50/50 that he stays.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 2:55 pm
- wordslinger -,

I meant to come across saying it was memorable because he failed to be confirmed, which happens rarely to a former colleague.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 2:57 pm
Meeks to the cops and the Senate:
“Do you know who I am?”

Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:00 pm
Equity Illinois needs to know when to quit. Their tactics against Meeks were worse than the ones they claim he would tolerate.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:04 pm
Meeks has the capability of being given enough room to self-destruct.

Comment by D.P.Gumby Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:05 pm
Equality Illinois might be coming across just a tiny bit too shrill for their first salvo. They should probably hold back a little in case it’s needed later to attack Meeks for something he’s actually done–not what they fear and suspect he’ll do.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:12 pm
This crew needs to give it a rest. He got all the votes but for 1. The LGBT folks do better when this guy isn’t heard from. For all the talk about victims around here, I know of no guy that screams about it more than Bernard. You guys came off a very productive year. The GA has shown wide acceptance and support. Don’t snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Put bluntly…Shut up already.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:18 pm
Rev. Meeks is a popular figure among Senate Dems, and still has strong support from the Black Caucus. I have not heard a convincing case made against Rev. Meeks competency to chair the state BoE. As Senators Raoul and Trotter alluded to on the floor, Sen. Meeks was the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education and has a long recorded history of advocating for education, especially in regards to poor and underprivileged youth and communities.

I understand where Equality Illinois is coming from with their concerns, but I think they are making more enemies than friends with their shrillness regarding this particular appointment.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:23 pm
hello people

Comment by grbfthtr Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:26 pm
wow so cool

Comment by grbfthtr Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:26 pm
best website ever

Comment by grbfthtr Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:28 pm
Who was the one that voted against Meeks? Steans? Biss?

Comment by Southwest Cook Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:35 pm
=Who was the one that voted against Meeks? Steans? Biss?=

The profile in courage was Delgado.

Comment by Nick Naylor Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 3:47 pm
When does Equality Illinois not come across as shrill?

Comment by Downstate Illinois Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 4:06 pm
Further proof of the waning influence of Equality Illinois, as if we needed any.

Marriage Equality passed despite them.

Why do they still exist?

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 4:15 pm
“Put bluntly… Shut up already.”

Don’t worry, Guy will let you know when it’s okay to ask for equal treatment.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 4:20 pm
The rhetoric by Equality Illinois matches the rhetoric used by then-Senator Meeks, which was vile and disgusting.

Comment by Not it Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 8:39 pm
Is time for a new leadership in Equality Illinois . They didn’t do enough to block Senator Meeks confirmation. Is time to bring diversity in the organization. They don’t educate the minority community with issues related to LGBT. Bring Latinos and African Americans to the board and invest more time and money in those communities.

Comment by Casey Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 9:09 pm
Vman, Responsa, A Guy
You all are nuts. The march for human equality and dignity does not stop when from the comfortable spaces of your life, you decide that someone else can handle a certain amount of oppression. Any is too much. Meeks is a disgusting bigot. He was when he was in the Senate and he is now.

==- Not it - Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 8:39 pm:==

Only your cluelessness equates the words in this statement with the record of hate by James Meeks.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 9:11 pm
Meeks is a chum and hate is popular.

Comment by AJ_yooper Thursday, Mar 19, 15 @ 9:26 pm