>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

A CONTROVERSIAL PUSH TO MAKE CHICAGO'S DOWNTOWN CURFEW FOR TEENS EVEN EARLIER.

HOW UPDATING IDENTIFYING DOCUMENTS COULD BECOME EASIER FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

>> WITHOUT A FOID YOU CAN'T LEGALLY BUY OR EVEN USE A GUN IN ILLINOIS.

LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.

>> AND IN OUR LATEST WTW NEWS EXPLAINS SERIES AMANDA VINDICATE LOOKS AT ILLINOIS'S GUN LAWS AND WHERE TO FIREARMS RECOVERED HERE.

COME FROM.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION CARE ARE COMING TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS FOR IT.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS SAYS IT'S SEEN A 47% OVERALL INCREASE IN ABORTION CARE.

PATIENTS IN THE 2 YEARS SINCE THE SUPREME COURT'S DOBBS DECISION THAT ALLOWED INDIVIDUAL STATES TO BAN OR RESTRICT ABORTION ACCESS.

THE AGENCY ALSO SAYS AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF OUT OF STATE PATIENTS MAKE UP NEARLY A QUARTER OF OVERALL ABORTION PATIENTS COMPARED TO PRE DOBBS.

WHAT IT WAS JUST 3 TO 5%, THE LARGEST VOLUME OF THOSE PATIENTS ARE COMING FROM INDIANA AND WISCONSIN.

BUT THE NEWLY-OPENED CARBONDALE HEALTH CENTER EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST INCREASE WITH PATIENTS COMING FROM TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY.

A GROUP OF BLACK AND LATINO DRIVERS WHO ARE SUING THE CITY OF CHICAGO SAY THEY ARE OPPOSED TO MOVING THE OVERSIGHT OF TRAFFIC STOPS TO THE CONSENT DECREE.

ATTORNEYS FOR THE ACLU OF ILLINOIS WHO REPRESENTS THE PLAINTIFFS IN THAT LAWSUIT OR ASKING FEDERAL CHIEF JUDGE REBECCA PAUL MEYER TO INTERVENE.

THE GROUP SAYS THE COURT ORDER GOVERNING POLICE DEPARTMENT REFORM HAS MOVED AT, QUOTE, A SNAIL'S PACE DUE TO CPD IS RECALCITRANT.

AND BECAUSE THE PLAINTIFFS ARE ALREADY SUING THE CITY ALLEGING THAT ITS TRAFFIC STOPS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING BLACK AND LATINO DRIVERS.

THEY FEAR THAT REFORMING THE DEPARTMENT'S TRAFFIC STOP PROGRAM WILL ONLY TAKE LONGER A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE IS SET FOR TOMORROW.

CONSTRUCTION CREWS WORKING ON THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER REACHING A NEW MILESTONE, THE TALLEST BUILDING ON THE MORE THAN 19 ACRE CAMPUS REACHED ITS FULL HEIGHT TODAY, UP 225 FEET AND FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WAS ON HAND FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE FORMER PRESIDENT SHOOK HANDS WITH CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND SIGNED A BEING THAT WILL BE USED IN THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTER LOCATED IN JACKSON PARK, THE CENTER HAD EXPECTED TO OPEN IN OCTOBER.

25, BUT THAT DATE HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TO SPRING 2026.

IF YOU'RE HEADING DOWNTOWN OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT AS TRAFFIC IS ABOUT TO GET A BIT WORSE TO MAKE WAY FOR NASCAR.

STARTING TODAY, CREWS BEGAN STREET CLOSURES TO SET UP FOR THE RACE COURSE WITH THE CLOSURE OF IDA B WELLS DRIVE FROM MICHIGAN AVENUE TO COLUMBUS DRIVE AND WITH LIMITED PARKING RESTRICTIONS ALONG SOUTHBOUND COLUMBUS DRIVE BETWEEN JACKSON ELBOW.

MORE CLOSURES WILL COME BETWEEN NOW AND JULY 5TH, THE DAY BEFORE RACING BEGINS WHEN CLOSURES WILL LOOK MORE LIKE THIS.

CDOT SAYS SET UP AND TEAR DOWN FOR THE RAYS WILL TAKE JUST 19 DAYS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 25 LAST YEAR.

AND PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR A FULL LIST OF ROAD CLOSURES.

FOR CHICAGO CHEFS OR RESTAURANTS ARE UP FOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST AWARDS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY TONIGHT AS THE 30 30 ANNUAL JAMES BEARD AWARDS KICKED OFF AT THE LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO.

THE AWARDS ARE AMONG THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS IN THE INDUSTRY OVER THE YEARS.

CHICAGO RESTAURATEURS LIKE RICK BAYLESS, ERIC WILLIAMS AND BEVERLY KIM AND JOHNNY CLARKE HAVE WON THE COVETED MEDALLION THIS PAST WEEKEND.

THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION ALSO GAVE OUT MEDIA AWARDS FOR JOURNALISM, COOKBOOKS AND PODCAST.

UP NEXT, A NEW PROPOSAL TO RESTRICT YOUNG PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART THE ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> THERE'S A NEW PUSH TO CHANGE CHICAGO'S CURFEW FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS DOWNTOWN TO 08:00PM.

THAT'S 2 HOURS EARLIER THAN THE 10:00PM CITYWIDE TEEN CURFEW.

THE CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL COMES AFTER A VIOLENT ATTACK IN STREETERVILLE THAT POLICE SAY WAS PERPETRATED BY 2 TEENS.

JOINING US NOW IS JAMES WHALE'S, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH LOOP NEIGHBORS.

WE ALSO INVITED ALDERMAN BRIAN HOPKINS WHO IS PROPOSING THE EARLIER CURFEW IN ALDERMAN BRENDAN REILLY WHO REPORTEDLY SUPPORTS THE PLAN, BUT BOTH HAVE DECLINED.

WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, BUT THEY DECLINED AS WELL.

JAMES WHALE'S, WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK SO FIRST, REMIND US IF YOU WOULD, WHY A TEEN CURFEW WAS CREATED FOR CHICAGO IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WELL, WOULD SUGGEST US THE I THINK FOR THEIR INTENTION, THEIR ON BOARD THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A I THINK SUPERINTENDENTS KNOWING CENTERED RIGHT ON THAT KIDS SHOULDN'T BE OUT AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT.

>> AND THAT'S AN STATEMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE IN OPPOSITION TO THE ENHANCED CURFEW ARE NOT GOING AGAINST THAT STATEMENT.

BUT MY FEELING AND THE FEELING OF OTHERS.

I ALSO SERVE ON VICE PRESIDENT GRANT PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL AND WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A POSITION THIS.

IS THIS THIS REALLY LATE ASSIST TIME TO HAVE AN ENHANCED CURFEW IS ALREADY PART OF PLAYBOOK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT IN THE PLACE.

FOR INSTANCE, MAGGIE DALEY PARK KNOW KIDS ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE ALLOWED IN THERE AFTER 06:00PM ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

AND WE ARE ADAMANTLY AGAINST BECAUSE THE PARK IS MADE FOR KIDS SPECIFICALLY.

MAGGIE DALEY, PARK AND AND THAT THAT PARTICULAR MAKES NO SENSE.

WE QUESTIONED AND NOW WITH THIS, THIS AND THIS NEW ATTEMPT TO ENHANCE THE CURFEW TO 8 O'CLOCK THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, WE THINK IS FOR HEARTY YOU KNOW, WE HAVE.

THE LAST CENSUS DATA SHOW THAT THERE'S OVER 500,000 KIDS WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PENALIZING 500,000 KIDS FOR THE ACTIONS OF 3 TO 400 KIDS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE 08:00PM IS ALSO A BIT EARLY.

HOWEVER, MAJOR YOU KNOW HIM.

AND I I THINK THAT THE ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT SOME TYPE OF ACTION TO STOP THESE HORRENDOUS INCIDENTS.

>> IS IS UNDERSTANDABLE.

BUT STUDIES HAVE INDICATED CURFEWS HAVE NO IMPACT ON CRIME.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF STUDIES THAT HAVE HAVE HAVE BORNE THAT OUT.

IN FACT, I THINK WASHINGTON, D.C., ENACTED A ENHANCE CURFEW AND THEY SAW INCREASE IN CRIME DURING THE CURFEW HOURS.

>> SOME ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS BY THIS KIND OF A CURFEW, RIGHT, GIVES A POLICE OFFICER'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TO TO BASICALLY CREATE A SITUATION WHERE NOW YOU'VE GOT TEENS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, INVOLVED WITH WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVED WITH THE LAW AND MAYBE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF A TICKET OR A FINE AND OFF YOU GO.

BUT STILL, THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT BY CREATING A LOT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW LAW TO BE BROKEN.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.

BUT I THINK THAT THAT HITS ON ANOTHER TARGET.

>> THE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S 2000 OFFICERS SHORT AND ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TIME TO BE ENFORCING CURFEW LAWS WHEN THEY CANNOT EVEN RESPOND TO CRIMES IN PROGRESS, I THINK IS IS BEING PUT PARTY.

>> THAT SAID, OBVIOUSLY, I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS BY BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS AND RESIDENTS IN IN THE LOOP AREA CRIME COMING TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND WE SAW IT LAST SUMMER AS WELL WITH THE SO-CALLED TEEN TAKEOVERS LARGE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF FLASH MOBS OF TEENS SHOWING UP.

HOW CAN YOU KNOW THOSE SITUATIONS THAT KIND OF TURNED VIOLENT?

HOW CAN THAT BE AVOIDED?

WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS NUMBER ONE, THERE'S THERE'S A COUPLE ANSWERS TO THAT.

I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REASON FOR THE KIDS CONGREGATING DOWNTOWN COMING DOWN AND CONGREGATING.

>> I THINK THE SECOND THING THAT HAS TO BE LOOKED INSTEAD OF HOLDING ALL THE KIDS WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF A FEW.

WE NEED TO START HOLDING THOSE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WHO ARE BREAKING THE LAW.

AND THERE'S A LOT ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE LARGE GATHERINGS, THAT'S DISORDERLY WHEN YOU HAVE THEM STARTING TO IMPEDE TRAFFIC, STARTING YOU KNOW, BREAK THERE'S THERE'S A NUMBER OF OF OF CRIMES THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS THAT THAT PREVENT THAT I THINK THE SECOND THING IS CHICAGO HAS A PRINTER RESPONSIBILITY OR AND WHAT THEY PERHAPS NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT PERHAPS UTILIZING THAT ORDINANCE FOR THE THE OFFENDERS ON THESE THESE INCIDENTS, THESE TERRIBLE INCIDENTS.

HOW PREVALENT IS VIOLENCE PERPETRATED BY TEENS?

AGAIN, I I THINK THAT.

WHAT PEOPLE SEE IS WHAT READ IN NEWSPAPERS AND SEE ON THE TV.

AND SO PERCEPTION IS IT'S IT'S QUITE LARGE.

I THINK THAT THAT PROBABLY IS NOT BORNE OUT BY THE FACTS.

I THINK KIDS CERTAINLY SITUATIONS WHERE THEY DID BECOME OFFENDERS AND VIOLENT CRIME, BUT THAT THAT GOES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CURFEWS ON PUBLIC SAFETY >> AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO CURRENTLY ALREADY HAS A 10:00PM CURFEW THAT WAS INSTATED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

ANY THOUGHTS EVEN ANECDOTALLY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT 10:00PM CURFEW.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, MY PREVIOUS LIFE I TAUGHT CRIMINAL AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL AND I WOULD UTILIZE CURFEW IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IN EFFECT OF SOME LAWS ARE AND CURFEW.

YOU KNOW, IT'S OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CURFEW ON PETE.

DID THE KIDS ARE GOING TO STAY AT HOME AND THE REALITY OF THAT IS WHEN YOU'RE A KID AND YOU SNEAK OUT AT NIGHT AT 2 O'CLOCK, 3 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND YOU SEE A SQUAD CAR DRIVE BY DOES THAT.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO GO HOME BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A CURFEW YOU INTO THE SQUAD CARS, GUNMEN GO OUT AND DO WHAT YOU'RE GOING SO I THINK THAT CURFEW LAWS, OUR GUIDE.

BUT I THINK THAT THAT WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A DETERRENT TO CRIME.

>> THEN THERE'S THE CONCERN THAT CURFEWS DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN AND TEENS.

HEAVY RESPONDED I THINK THAT YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS AND I THINK THE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE RISEN IN THE PAST, I THINK THERE IS AN INDICATOR THAT, IN PEOPLE OF COLOR.

TARGETED MORE PERHAPS PEOPLE NOT OF COLOR.

>> SHOULD THERE BE EXCEPTIONS TO CURFEW LIKE THIS?

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU KNOW FOR YOUNG PERSON HAS A JOB FAIR AND WE'RE ALREADY ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS CURRENT I GOT A CURFEW, BOTH STATE LOCAL.

IF YOU'RE COMING FROM AN EVENT AND ORGANIZE NOVAK, IF YOU'RE COMING FROM EMPLOYMENT, THAT CETERA, THOSE DON'T THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.

>> I MEAN, DO YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD BE COULD BE ENFORCED?

NO, I I ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS AN TIME ON THEIR HANDS TO BE GOING IN AND CARTING KIDS.

>> WHO THEY THINK MAY BE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 FOR BEING IN VIOLATION OF THE CURFEW ORDINANCE.

THAT'S THAT'S IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> AND WHAT'S NEXT?

YOU KNOW, WERE YOU IN IN COMMUNICATION WITH ABOUT THIS PROPOSED CURFEW?

>> WE HAD, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK THAT THE POSITION THAT I KNOW OTHERS HAVE TAKEN AS WELL AS IS THE POSITION I'VE STATED IT IS LOOK AT HOLDING PARENTS RESPONSIBLE.

LOOK AT THE PRADO RESPONSIBILITY ON IS THAT WAS THE PURPOSE FOR PUTTING THAT ON TO BEGIN WITH, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY A PARENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILD TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE.

THERE THERE ARE BEHAVING APPROPRIATELY WITHIN SOCIETY'S NORMS.

AND I THINK THAT IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE, THERE'S A LOT OF PARENTS WORK AND THEY MAY NOT KNOW.

SO I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO SOME LATITUDE.

SO THE FIRST THE CHILD IS CAUGHT THE THE TEEN GATHERING YOU KNOW ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE THEY'RE CAUSING PROBLEMS YOU WHAT THE PARENT KNOW.

HEY, LISTEN, WE CAUGHT, YOU KNOW, YOUR YOUR CHILD ENGAGING IN BEHAVIOR.

THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN'T.

AND THE SECOND TIME, THEN THEY COULD START THE PARENT GETS.

I ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

MORE TO COME ON THIS.

I'M SURE AS THE ULTIMATE TRY AND PUSH THIS THROUGH, IF THEY CAN.

>> JAMES WHALE'S A SOUTH WITH NEIGHBORS.

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, WE EXPLAIN ILLINOIS'S GUN LAWS AND THE LIMITS ON HOW EFFECTIVE THEY ARE.

STILL WITH US.

>> CHICAGO, TONIGHT'S COVERAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS SUPPORTED BY THE SOO LEE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INITIATIVE FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>> THERE'S NO DISPUTING THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS A PROBLEM IN CHICAGO.

DESPITE LAWS INTENDED TO HELP.

BUT ARE THEY EFFECTIVE?

AMANDA BENNETT, LOOKS FOR AN ANSWER IN THE LATEST EDITION OF OUR SERIES W T TW NEWS EXPLAINS.

>> CHICAGO HAS A REPUTATION AS THE CITY OF BIG SHOULDERS FOR ROUGH AND TUMBLE POLITICS FOR HAVING A LOT TIME DESPITE STRICT GUN LAWS.

BUT WHAT ARE THOSE MOST MAJOR GUN RESTRICTIONS COME FROM THE STATE, NOT THE CITY ITSELF TO PURCHASE AND OWN A GUN IN ILLINOIS.

YOU MUST HAVE A FIREARM OWNERS IDENTIFICATION OR FOID CARD TO QUALIFY FOR A FOID CARD.

YOU HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 21 IN HAVE NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY.

THAT AND OTHER DISQUALIFYING CRIMES WOULD COME UP IN THE REQUIRED BACKGROUND WITHOUT A FOID.

YOU CAN'T LEGALLY BUY OR EVEN USE A GUN IN ILLINOIS.

WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS TO CARRY A GUN IN PUBLIC.

THAT REQUIRES A SECOND OFFICIAL CREDENTIAL, A CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE WHICH REQUIRES COMPLETING A TRAINING CONCEALED CARRY LICENSES, ALLOW SOMEONE TO CARRY A LOADED GUN IN PERMITTED GLEESON'S.

EVEN SOMEONE WITH THE CCL CAN'T BRING A FIREARM INTO A SCHOOL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, CTA, TRAIN HOSPITAL, BORROW OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THE OWNER HAS SAID NO.

>> KEY IN CONCEALED.

NO FLASHY HOLSTERS IN ILLINOIS.

THAT GUN PASSED TO BE HIDDEN.

FIREARM DEALERS AS IN THOSE WHO SELL GUNS HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE TO REQUIRES 72 HOURS BETWEEN WHEN SOMEONE APPLIES TO BUY A GUN AND WHEN THE DEALER CAN DELIVER >> THE SAINT ANN'S A BUNCH OF GUNS OUT RIGHT AS WELL.

SPECIFICALLY THOSE CLASSIFIED BY ILLINOIS AS ASSAULT WEAPONS.

SO HOW DO ILLINOIS'S SO-CALLED STRICT GUN LAWS STACK THE GIFFORDS LAW CENTER GIVES ILLINOIS AND E MINUS FOR HAVING SOME OF THE NATION'S STRICTEST GUN LAWS.

AS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, WISCONSIN GET TO AND INDIANA A D MINUS IOWA, MISSOURI AND KENTUCKY ALL SCORE NOW IF GUN RIGHTS GROUPS TO DEGRADING ILLINOIS WOULD PROBABLY GET THE STATE IS SEEN AS ONE OF THE LEAST FRIENDLY WHEN IT COMES TO GUN OWNERSHIP.

EITHER WAY GUN LAWS IN NEIGHBORING STATES IMPACT ILLINOIS.

IT'S NOT LIKE THERE BORDER CHECKPOINTS.

THE U.S. BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS REPORTS THAT IN 2022 OF THE NEARLY 20,000 FIREARMS RECOVERED IN TRIESTE IN ILLINOIS, LESS THAN 40% WERE ACTUALLY PURCHASED IN STATE.

THE MOST RECENT DATA FOR CHICAGO IS FROM 2019 AND ONLY ABOUT A 3RD OF THE RECOVERED AND TRACE FIREARMS PURCHASED IN ILLINOIS.

SO WHILE CHICAGO IS THE CITY OF BIG SHOULDERS AND ROUGH AND TUMBLE POLITICS, THE CORRELATION BETWEEN CHICAGO GUN VIOLENCE AND GUN THAT IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE THE REST OF OUR EMMY WINNING WTW NEWS EXPLAINS SERIES ON OUR WEB SITE AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH EXPLAINS.

UP NEXT, HOW ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS WANT TO REMOVE A BARRIER FOR TRANSGENDER RESIDENTS.

SO WITH US.

TRANSGENDER RESIDENTS IN ILLINOIS MAY SOON HAVE A PAP TO CHANGE THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATES THAT WERE ISSUED IN ANOTHER STATE.

THAT'S IF GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER SIGNS THE BILL PASSED BY STATE LAWMAKERS.

THE BILL ALLOWS ILLINOIS RESIDENTS TO GET A JUDICIAL ORDER TO ALTER THEIR NAME AND ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION ISSUED IN ANOTHER STATE.

HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT THIS COULD HAVE OUR MIKE SIRI, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY FOR EQUALITY, ILLINOIS, BE READ NICK DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES AT THE TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE LAW PROJECT OF ILLINOIS.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING MIKE SERIES STARTING WITH YOU.

PLEASE.

LAST YEAR IT WILL UPDATED THIS PROCESS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN IN ILLINOIS THAT WOULD NO LONGER NEED THAT CERTIFICATION FROM A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL BEFORE CHANGING THEIR GENDER OR ON THAT DOCUMENTATION.

WHO DOES THIS NEW PIECE OF LEGISLATION IMPACT?

YEAH, FOR SO THANKS FOR HAVING THIS NEW PIECE OF LEGISLATION, HOUSE BILL, 5, 507.

>> IMPACTS ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WHO WERE BORN IN ANOTHER STATE OR ANOTHER COUNTRY.

AND UNLIKE ILLINOIS, THANKFULLY, OTHER STATES AND SOME COUNTRIES REQUIRE A COURT ORDER TO CORRECT GENDER MARKER ON A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

SO THIS LEGISLATION IMPACT THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE FOR, YOU KNOW, HAVE MOVED TO ILLINOIS MAYBE DECADES AGO, MAY BE THEIR NEW RESIDENTS OF THE STATE FLEEING THE THE CRUELTIES OF THEIR HOME STATES.

RIGHT NOW, THE INTEL TO LAWS WE'RE SEEING.

AND SO THIS WILL REALLY BE ANOTHER TOOL AND A WAY FOR ONLY TO MOVE FORWARD IN PROTECTING LGBTQ+, FOLKS WHO COME TO ILLINOIS HER AND TO BE CLEAR ON THE STEPS FOR THAT THEY JUST SORT OF HAVE TO BASICALLY SIGNED DOCUMENTATION ATTESTING TO TO THIS CHANGE THAT'S FOR FOR FOR FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE BORN HERE UNDER THE LAW TALK ABOUT LAST YEAR UNDER THE LEGISLATION THE TRANSPORT OF JUSTICE LAW PROJECT INEQUALITY.

ADVOCATE FOR THIS SESSION.

THAT'S THE PET OF THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT'S A VERY SIMPLE.

IT SAYS THAT ONLY RESIDENT COMPETITION CAN ASK AN ILLINOIS JUDGE FOR DOCUMENTATION THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL CAN THEN TAKE OR SEND TO THE THEIR HOME STATE TO MEET THAT STANDARD.

A COURT ORDER.

SO IT'S JUST A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS IS JUST CLARIFIES THE LAW TO PROVIDE A PROCESS IN STATUTE THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

THAT ISN'T CLARIFIED NOW FOR WHAT RESIDENTS CAN DOING, WHAT JUDGES CAN DO SO PROVIDES CLARITY, JUDGES AND IT WILL BE A POWERFUL TOOL TO HELP THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE BORN HERE.

>> ALL NIC, WHY WAS THIS NECESSARY NEEDED?

>> I THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AS WELL.

THIS IS BECAUSE IN THE YEARS I'VE PRACTICING PRACTICING ASSISTING PEOPLE WITH A GENDER MARKER CHANGES FOR ABOUT 13 YEARS.

AND WHAT I'VE REPEATEDLY IS JUDGES FEELING LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN AN ORDER TELLING ANOTHER WHAT TO DO.

AND SO THIS LAW IS SIMPLY A MEETING.

WHAT THE OTHER STATE IS ASKING FOR, WHICH IS COURT COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO WRITE ORDER SAYING THAT A PERSON'S GENDER HAS CHANGED A LOT.

WE DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT PROCESS.

WE DO KNOW THAT IT'S A BARRIER TO INDIVIDUALS BE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR GENDER MARKERS ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

AND SO THIS LET JUDGES.

NO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS.

YOU CAN SIGNED AN ORDER BASED ON A FINDING OF FACT THAT SAYS THAT A PERSON'S JENNER HAS CHANGED EVERY STATE HAS DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS.

SO THE JUDGES WOULD LOOK WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT PETITIONERS ASKING FOR.

AND THEN SIMPLY WRITING THE ORDER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT OF THAT STATE AND THEN IT'S UP TO THAT STATE ABOUT WHETHER THEY WANT TO ACCEPT IT OR NOT.

BUT ILLINOIS AND THE LONGER BE A BARRIER TO SOMEBODY.

I'M TAKING THAT NEXT STEP, MIKE, TO ANTICIPATE THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY GET TO SOME OF THOSE OTHER WITH THE COURT ORDER FROM ILLINOIS THAT, YOU LIKE SAID, IT IS UP TO THAT STATE, WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCEPT IT OR NOT.

>> TO ANTICIPATE THAT FOR SOME FOLKS, DEPENDING ON THE STATE THAT MIGHT STILL BE A CHALLENGE VERY WELL COULD AND I WANT TO PUT THIS BILL A NATIONAL CONTEXT BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT ILLINOIS MOVING FORWARD.

BUT WE'VE SEEN MORE THAN 400 AND TITLE TO BQ.

PLUS BILLS INTRODUCED STATE CAPITOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR.

AND MANY OF THOSE INTRODUCED IN STATES SURROUNDING ILLINOIS.

SO THE FACT THAT THAT WE ARE PUTTING FORTH ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT FROM TRANS FOLKS IN ILLINOIS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL OTHER STATES TOO.

BUT SO OBVIOUS POINT WE CAN REMOVE THE HERE IN ILLINOIS.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE HAVE CONSISTENTLY DONE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND DECADES TO REMOVE BARRIERS WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESSING RIGHTS RIGHTS, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, LGBTQ+ RIGHTS CENTER.

AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS MOVING FORWARD IN THAT WAY.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD THAT THE LEGISLATURE TOOK THE STEP.

>> ILLINOIS IS THOUGH, SURROUNDED BY STATES THAT ARE PLACING MORE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

IS THERE SORT OF A SENSE OF URGENCY FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S I TALK PETITIONERS EVERY DAY WHO FEEL A REAL SENSE OF URGENCY BECAUSE THEY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND STATES ACROSS THE WE SAW THE LAW GET HARSHER IN WISCONSIN.

WE SAW AND THAT WHERE IS A TRANS PERSON.

YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

AND SO PEOPLE ARE AND WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OHIO.

YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL FOR THE LOSS TO GET STRICTER IN OHIO.

SO PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR AND A LOT OF THE STATES AND WE'RE SURROUNDED YOU KNOW, INDIANA, MISSOURI AND WISCONSIN, OHIO, SOUTH DAKOTA, THAT ALL OR WHERE THESE 4 ORDERS, PEOPLE ARE REALLY FEARFUL THAT LAWS LIKE EXIST IN TENNESSEE AND THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET THEIR CERTIFICATES CHANGED ALL, WHICH POSES A REAL SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE.

IF THEY HAVE TO SHOW THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND IT EFFECTIVELY, ALICE THEM, WHICH WE KNOW OUTING SOMEBODY IS A THERE'S A HUGE RISK OF VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

>> AND YOU JUST TOUCHED ON IT.

BUT I THAT WAS I WAS GOING TO ASK, WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT SOMEONE THAT THEIR GENDER AND THEIR DOCUMENTS MATCH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, IF IF YOU HAVE TO GO INTO DMV AND SHOW YOUR CERTIFICATE TO GET >> YOU DRIVER'S LICENSE AND LET'S SAY YOU'RE FROM A SMALLER AREA THAT'S GOING TO DISCLOSE YOUR GENDER IDENTITY TO POTENTIALLY YOUR WHOLE COMMUNITY BECAUSE ALL IT TAKES IS FOR SOMEBODY TO TELL SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> DEAL TRANSFORMED YOU KNOW, SITUATIONS HERE IN ILLINOIS GOING TO THE DMV AT TIMES.

SO WE KNOW THAT IT EXISTS HERE.

IT CERTAINLY EXISTS IN OTHER STATES AS WELL.

>> AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ILLINOIS IS NOT A BARRIER TO KEEPING PEOPLE'S A MORE SAFE.

>> MIKE, THIS BILL PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE WORK.

WHAT WORK HAPPENS FROM HERE TO ENSURE THAT IT GETS TO OF COURSE IT WILL GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BUT TO ENSURE HE SIGNS IT.

YEAH.

WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, PROCEDURALLY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PUT IN THE REQUEST, WHICH ALWAYS DO.

YOU PUT IN THE REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR AND WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THAT.

YOU KNOW, HE HAS PRIORITIZED MAKING ILLINOIS A TRUE BASTION OF SAFETY AND SUPPORT AND AFFIRMATION FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY THAT HE'S BEEN HIS RECORD EVEN BEFORE HE WAS BECAME GOVERNOR.

AND WE'VE APPRECIATE THAT.

THE PARTNERSHIP THAT ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE THE GOVERNOR.

SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THE BILL WHEN IT DOES, YOU KNOW HIS DESK AND WE CAN THINK ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT AS WELL.

WE HAVE OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS ON THAT AS WELL BECAUSE THE WORK OF JUSTICE IS NEVER DONE AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT HIS COLONEL JENNIFER PRITZKER, ALSO THE WORLD'S FIRST TRANS BILLIONAIRE.

>> AND SO IT IS IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS LIKELY PERSONAL FOR HIM AS WELL.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

MIKE SYRIAN RET, I THINK.

STEVE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

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>> WE TALK ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE FOUNDER OF PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS AND ENJOY THE CHICAGO RIVER WHILE LEARNING ABOUT EFFORTS TO TAKE CARE OF IT ON THE SHEDD AQUARIUM'S KAYAK CONSERVATION.

2 WARS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A AND CLIFFORD A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH AND PROUD SPONSOR OF PROGRAMMING THAT OFFERS ADVICE AND STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE