Every person deserves to live free from discrimination, fear, and violence, regardless of who they are or who they love.

As your Congresswoman, I will fight for the full equality, safety, and dignity of LGBTQ+ people across Illinois’ 7th Congressional District and throughout the nation.

LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, and they must be protected in every area of public life, from housing and employment to health care, education, and beyond. I will work to advance bold federal action that not only defends against attacks on equality, but expands the rights and protections our communities deserve.

Enshrining Equal Rights in Law

Pass the Equality Act (H.R. 15 / S.5)
I will fight to finally pass the Equality Act, which would:

• Explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, education, credit, jury service, and public accommodations.

• Expand the 1964 Civil Rights Act to ensure full federal protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.
  
  

Pass the Do No Harm Act

• Prevent misuse of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to justify discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals.

• Protect access to reproductive and gender-affirming care, public services, and workplace protections without religious exemptions being used as a loophole for discrimination.
  
  

Protect Marriage Equality Act (Respect for Marriage Act - S. 4556)

• Codify marriage equality into federal law to ensure that same-sex and interracial marriages remain legally recognized nationwide, no matter how the Supreme Court may rule in the future.

Ensuring Health, Safety, and Dignity

Protect Gender-Affirming Care
I will oppose any attempt, federal or state, to criminalize or restrict gender-affirming healthcare. Instead, I will champion legislation that:

• Ensures access to medically necessary, evidence-based care for transgender and nonbinary people.

• Expands funding for LGBTQ+ health clinics and inclusive mental health services.

• Protects healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care from political attacks and harassment.
  
  

Increase Federal Funding for LGBTQ+ Homeless Youth

• Support legislation like the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act to provide shelter, safety, and affirming care for LGBTQ+ youth, who make up a disproportionate share of unhoused young people.
  
  

Ending Discrimination in Schools and Public Life

Pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 2653)

• Mandate anti-bullying policies that protect LGBTQ+ youth in schools.

• Ensure federal funding supports inclusive education and mental health supports for LGBTQ+ students.
  
  

End Book Bans and Censorship

• Defend educators, libraries, and students from extremist efforts to erase queer history, books, and voices from our classrooms and communities.

• Promote inclusive curricula that reflect the full diversity of American experiences.
  
  

Support the LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act (H.R. 4176)

• Require federal agencies to collect voluntary data on sexual orientation and gender identity in surveys to ensure policies reflect the needs of LGBTQ+ communities.

Protecting LGBTQ+ Service Members and Veterans

• Strengthen enforcement of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to include protections for LGBTQ+ veterans and service members.

• Expand VA healthcare services to include gender-affirming care and culturally competent mental health services for LGBTQ+ veterans.

• Support the Restore Honor to Service Members Act to upgrade discharges for veterans forced out under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

My Commitment

In Congress, I will:

• Defend LGBTQ+ rights from extremist attacks at every level of government.

• Center the voices of trans and nonbinary people in policy decisions.

• Work alongside movements like the Equality Federation, Human Rights Campaign, and National Black Justice Coalition to deliver lasting equity for our LGBTQ+ community.