Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker condemns Trump’s LGBTQ+ erasure & rising authoritarianism in blistering speech

He recently reaffirmed that Illinois will not cooperate with the federal government’s efforts to erase transgender people and vowed to continue expanding protections for LGBTQ+ residents. His speech is already being hailed as one of the most urgent calls to action from a Democratic governor.

GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis praised Pritzker’s decision to explicitly name LGBTQ+ people in his warning about authoritarianism, saying that his leadership is essential in this moment of crisis.

“Gov. Pritzker is accurately recalling history that profoundly affected his own family and the global LGBTQ community,” Ellis said. “Leaders who dehumanize people do so to divide the country and expand authoritarian control. The governor is using his platform to draw urgent attention to what’s at stake, and we can all be inspired by his words and action. Leaders should speak up for the human rights of all people and work to improve everyone’s lives. Make the call to your elected representatives today.”

Pritzker is one of the wealthiest politicians in the country, with an estimated net worth exceeding $3.5 billion. His fortune comes from the Hyatt hotel empire, founded by his family. The Pritzker family has long been one of the most powerful and influential in American business and philanthropy, with interests spanning real estate, private equity, and global hospitality.

Despite his immense wealth, Pritzker has been a progressive champion, investing his money into political causes, including abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and expanding social services in Illinois.

Illinois’ history of resisting hate

Pritzker closed his address by reminding Illinoisans of their long history of standing against white supremacy and fascism, invoking the 1978 attempted Nazi march in the town of Skokie, a predominantly Jewish suburb of Chicago. The march, which would have paraded through a community home to many Holocaust survivors, was shut down by public resistance.

“Those Illinois Nazis did end up holding their march in 1978—just not in Skokie,” Pritzker said. “After all the blowback from the case, they decided to march in Chicago instead. Only twenty of them showed up. But 2,000 people came to counter-protest. The Chicago Tribune reported that day that the ‘rally sputtered to an unspectacular end after ten minutes.’ It was Illinoisans who smothered those embers before they could burn into a flame.”

He added, “Tyranny requires your fear and your silence and your compliance. Democracy requires your courage. So gather your justice and humanity, Illinois, and do not let the ‘tragic spirit of despair’ overcome us when our country needs us the most.”

Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Christopher Wiggins