SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford – a longstanding advocate to protect a person’s right to reproductive and gender-affirming care – supported a measure Tuesday that further enshrines those rights for Illinoisans.

“As a parent of a transgender child, I have seen firsthand the bullying, the pain and the discrimination that places a dark cloud over their lives – not just in social settings, but in health care settings,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Just as it seemed we, as a nation, were getting more accepting – we regressed. We told people their health – their lives – don’t matter. But as a state, we took steps forward. We showed people – all people – that their health needs are worthy and will be protected.”

While Illinois already has some of the most extensive reproductive health laws protecting abortion and gender-affirming care in the country on the books, many neighboring states have fiercely diminished people’s rights and have threatened to intrude upon the rights of people in other states. 

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SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker, House Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan Gordon-Booth and Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford issued a joint statement Tuesday supporting legislation that will guarantee paid leave for all Illinois workers:

“Whether it’s dealing with a sudden family illness or an emergency auto repair, sometimes life gets in the way of work. Paid leave will have a significant, positive impact on the lives of residents across our state, and underscores our commitment to uplifting working families. We appreciate the work put into this from all stakeholders, including business and labor, to bring us to this moment.”

Key components of Senate Bill 208 include:

• All employers will be required to provide their employees with a minimum of 40 hours (or five days) of paid leave per year to be used for any reason. Employers may choose to offer more paid leave time.

• A worker would begin to earn paid leave on their first day of their employment at a rate of one hour of leave for every 40 hours worked.

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BROOKFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford hosted the 13th Annual Uplift Our Future free back to school event serving nearly 500 community residents with a fun-filled free day at the Brookfield Zoo. 

“Our goal every year is to ensure every child is prepared and emotionally equipped to learn for the upcoming school year while having a fun day at the zoo,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Regardless of the weather many families still came out, and I thank all the sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and families who weathered the storm with us to ensure we continued to support our future leaders.” 

Since 2009, Lightford has hosted a free Back to School Event for youth and families in the 4th Senate District at the Brookfield Zoo.

The 13th Annual Uplift Our Future Back to School event served youth by ensuring there was no admission fee, no parking fee, no cost for face painting, no cost for kidzone, no cost for child I.D card, no cost for lunch, and no cost for backpacks filled with school supplies for students from Pre-K to College. Lightford also had the honor of partnering with a vendor to provide COVID-19 vaccinations and screenings this year.