Illinois Department of Human Rights

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Illinois Department of Human Rights The state agency that protects the right to live free from discrimination, in every aspect of life. bit.ly/m/IllinoisDHR

The Act prohibits discrimination because of the following protected classes: race, color, religion, s*x, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (with regard to employment), age (40 and over), marital status, familial status (with regard to housing), arrest record, physical and mental disability, military status, s*xual orientation, unfavorable discharge from military service, and order of protection status. The law protects against retaliation resulting from someone's attempt to exercise their right to fair housing or enjoy their full housing accommodation.

One year of documenting, investigating, and building a public record. The Illinois Accountability Commission (IAC) is co...
10/21/2026

One year of documenting, investigating, and building a public record.

The Illinois Accountability Commission (IAC) is concluding its executive order mandate, marking the completion of a first-in-the-nation state effort to examine federal agents’ conduct during Operation Midway Blitz.

We are grateful to the individuals and communities who shared their experiences. Their voices helped shape a public record that will be preserved and help inform broader national accountability efforts through IAC’s partnership with Disappeared in America.

Learn more at disappearedinamerica.us.

10/20/2026

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, IDHR proudly hosted the 2026 Accessibility Committee for Employees with Disabilities (ACED) Awards Ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions to accessibility, inclusion, and opportunity across Illinois state government.

We were honored to receive a special video message from Governor JB Pritzker celebrating this year’s honorees and highlighting the importance of accessibility and inclusion in state employment.

🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 award recipients!

✨Employee of the Year: Jay Williams
✨State Agency of the Year: Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology
✨Advocate of the Year: Donna Hardy
✨Legislator of the Year: Representative Gregg Johnson

Thank you to each of our honorees for helping create a more accessible and inclusive Illinois!

For four months, federal agents turned Chicago into a war zone. Illinois answered by building the record.Disappeared in ...
10/15/2026

For four months, federal agents turned Chicago into a war zone. Illinois answered by building the record.

Disappeared in America draws on the Illinois Accountability Commission’s findings to document Operation Midway Blitz: the timeline, the victims, and the lies.

Read it. Share it. Don’t let it be erased. 🔗 disappearedinamerica.us

To read IAC's full press release, visit bit.ly/IACDIA.

October 11 - 17 marks Illinois' second annual Menopause Awareness Week.In recognition of the week, the Office of the Lt....
10/08/2026

October 11 - 17 marks Illinois' second annual Menopause Awareness Week.

In recognition of the week, the Office of the Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and partners are hosting a series of virtual conversations with menopause experts.

Join IDHR Deputy Director Amy Meek on October 14, from 12-1PM for "Menopause Employment Protections in Illinois," a continuing legal education (CLE) session exploring updates to the Illinois Human Rights Act under HB5284 and what they mean for workplace discrimination protections and reasonable accommodations for menopause-related conditions.

Visit bit.ly/ILMenopause to learn more and register!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to recognize the contributions of people with disabili...
10/02/2026

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to recognize the contributions of people with disabilities in workplaces across Illinois and beyond. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how we can remove barriers and expand access to meaningful employment.

This October, we invite you to join us in discussions on building more inclusive and equitable workplaces, attend our free trainings, and consider what each of us can do to make our workplaces and communities more welcoming.

Check out all our FREE, ONLINE, publicly-available courses and register today! Find more info at dhr.illinois.gov/training.

09/25/2026

We reflect on the impact of Operation Midway Blitz. We speak their names because every life deserves to be acknowledged. In this video, IDHR staff came together to recognize individuals whose lives were lost in connection with federal immigration detention and enforcement since 2025.

We shared the list, “Recuerden Sus Nombres” (Remember Their Names), a memorial by Chicago artist Brian Herrera. It was mounted on the wall of Oasis Ristorante at 18th and Wood streets in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.

Not every name is on Herrera’s list or spoken aloud in this video. It is expected that there are more than 50 related fatalities since 2025. Their absence from the mural or this narration is not an absence from our remembrance.

We recognize that each number represents a person. A life. A family. A story.

Today marks the beginning of , a time to recognize and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and traditions of Hispan...
09/15/2026

Today marks the beginning of , a time to recognize and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and traditions of Hispanic and Latino communities across Illinois and our nation.

Throughout the month, we honor the people, voices and experiences that have helped shape our communities and continue to enrich the places we call home.

At IDHR, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live, work, learn, and thrive with dignity and respect. Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our communities and the many cultures that make them stronger.

Dolly Parton understood something powerful: culture can change hearts long before laws change minds. Dolly’s greatest gi...
08/25/2026

Dolly Parton understood something powerful: culture can change hearts long before laws change minds. Dolly’s greatest gift was her remarkable ability to bring people together. Her music, generosity and message of kindness transcended borders, generations, backgrounds and beliefs.

Her life is a reminder that advancing human rights is not only found in laws or institutions. It is also found in how we see one another, how we treat one another and whether we choose to stand for the dignity of others.

What a wonderful example she leaves all of us.

To Dolly!

08/20/2026

Join La Casa Norte ALMA Chicago Equality Illinois and ILLCF for a community conversation on homelessness among Latine LGBTQ+ youth—grounded in new Illinois research, lived experience, and legislative solutions.

Featuring State Senator Omar Aquino and State Representative Lilian Jiménez.

📅 August 26 | 10:00–11:30 a.m.
📍 La Casa Norte, 3533 W. North Ave.

Free and open to the public and media. RSVP by scanning QR code, clicking the link in bio, or visiting bit.ly/4wMUqne

08/15/2026

☀️ Feeling the heat at the Illinois State Fair?

🪭 Take a break in one of our four air-conditioned buildings: Orr Building, Livestock Center, Illinois Building, or the Emmerson Building Lobby, or stop by the cooling tent on the east side of the Coliseum.

💧 Grab some water from any one of our water stations at the Ag tent
Governor’s tent, First Lady’s tent, Lt. Governors tent, Comptrollers tent, Attorney General’s tent, Treasurer’s tent or outside the Sensory station

Recharge, rehydrate and keep the fun going at the Illinois State Fair!

Address

555 W Monroe Street , 7th Floor
Chicago, IL
60661

Telephone

+13128146200

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