McHenry County Blog

It is unlikely that Senator Pam Althoff (R-McHenry) envisioned the waves the enforcement of the law on which she was the deciding vote would and will continue to make in McHenry County.

(I see two other "Yes" votes in the State Senate from the Republican Party. Both--Dan Rutherford and Christine Radogno--are running for statewide office, Rutherford for Secretary of State and Radogno for State Treasurer.)

Without her vote the law (Senate Bill 3186) would have failed. She voted to add “sexual orientation” to the this list of those against whom one may not discriminate:

race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military status, or unfavorable discharge from military service

The bill defined “sexual orientation” this way:

Actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity, whether or not traditionally associated with the person’s designed sex at birth. “Sexual orientation” does not include physical or sexual attraction to a minor by an adult.

Passage of the law made Illinois one of only seven states where the law protects transgender people, says the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Now that the Crystal Lake political waves are getting choppy and Althoff’s campaign chairman, Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley, has come out in favor of holding the Gay Games on Crystal Lake, will Senator Althoff get wet?

Labels: Christine Radogno, Gay Games Regatta, Pam Althoff