Foundations
Here's a look at documents from U.S. foundations
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Southeastern Legal Foundation Urges National Marine Fisheries Service to Throw Unconstitutional Boating Regulation Overboard
ROSWELL, Georgia, June 3 -- The Southeastern Legal Foundation issued the following news release on June 2, 2026:
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Southeastern Legal Foundation urges National Marine Fisheries Service to throw unconstitutional boating regulation overboard
Today, the Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF), a national nonprofit of top attorneys that regularly defend constitutional rights, issued a public comment to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (https://slfliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260602-SLF-Ltr.-to-NMFS-Re.-VSR-Comment-NOAA-NMFS-2026-0364.pdf) urging the organization to fully
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ROSWELL, Georgia, June 3 -- The Southeastern Legal Foundation issued the following news release on June 2, 2026:
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Southeastern Legal Foundation urges National Marine Fisheries Service to throw unconstitutional boating regulation overboard
Today, the Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF), a national nonprofit of top attorneys that regularly defend constitutional rights, issued a public comment to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (https://slfliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260602-SLF-Ltr.-to-NMFS-Re.-VSR-Comment-NOAA-NMFS-2026-0364.pdf) urging the organization to fullyrescind the unlawful vessel speed rule which heavily restricted boats over 65 feet traveling across the Atlantic by enforcing a 10 knot speed limit.
SLF previously filed a petition on behalf of multiple boat captains and owners to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NMFS. The vessel speed rule was enforced in the name of protecting endangered whales but proved to be highly restrictive, forcing boaters to travel under the speed of a golf cart, with violations of the rule being potential jail time and $20,000 fines.
The rule placed significant burdens on the boating and fishing industries, limiting the ability of commercial fishermen to effectively operate and earn a living. The comment states, "... regulations that treat fishermen like outlaws for traveling at safe speeds. Fish move. Fishermen must follow. To fill their holds and American stomachs, fishermen ought not to have to factor in the precise latitude and longitude coordinates of a regulated zone. And when schools of fish enter these zones, to follow them around puttering at 10 knots puts American fishermen at a disadvantage."
SLF President Kim Hermann said, "It's time that we officially put this Obama-era rule to end and not hold boaters and fishermen back from enjoying the open waters and making a living. I understand that the desire to protect whales is a noble pursuit, but this rule has proven to do anything but that. In fact, the only thing that the rule did was successfully cripple the boating industry while putting the livelihoods of boaters and fishermen at risk. I highly encourage that NMFS finally rescinds this outdated and restrictive rule."
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Original text here: https://slfliberty.org/southeastern-legal-foundation-urges-national-marine-fisheries-service-to-throw-unconstitutional-boating-regulation-overboard/
La. School System Heeds FFRF Call to Ban the Gideons
MADISON, Wisconsin, June 3 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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La. school system heeds FFRF call to ban the Gideons
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has successfully advised a Louisiana school district to bar a religious organization from handing out bibles to its students.
A concerned family member informed the state/church watchdog that on Sept. 26 of last year, Herndon Magnet School (located in Belcher, La.) permitted Gideons International to address students and distribute bibles to youngsters on school grounds during the school day. Gideons
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MADISON, Wisconsin, June 3 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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La. school system heeds FFRF call to ban the Gideons
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has successfully advised a Louisiana school district to bar a religious organization from handing out bibles to its students.
A concerned family member informed the state/church watchdog that on Sept. 26 of last year, Herndon Magnet School (located in Belcher, La.) permitted Gideons International to address students and distribute bibles to youngsters on school grounds during the school day. GideonsInternational is "an evangelical association that equips and mobilizes Christian business and professional men, along with their wives, to share God's word, winning others for Jesus worldwide." Herndon Magnet School's official Facebook page stated (image above): "We were so thankful to be visited by the Gideon Ministry this morning! They spoke with our 5th graders and offered each student the opportunity to receive a Youth New Testament Bible." (The post no longer appears on the Herndon Magnet School Facebook page.)
School-sponsored bible distributions are unconstitutional, FFRF reminded the school district.
"It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for Caddo Parish Public Schools to allow outside groups to distribute religious materials to students," FFRF Legal Fellow Charlotte Gude wrote to Caddo Parish Public Schools Superintendent Keith S. Burton. "By allowing Gideons International to distribute bibles to students, Caddo Parish Public Schools displays blatant favoritism for religion over nonreligion and Christianity above all other faiths. Further, it appears that the school itself hosted and promoted the bible distribution. When school staff encourages young students to take bibles, they run the risk of unconstitutionally coercing students to take, read and reflect upon religious literature."
Further, FFRF pointed out, this bible distribution and social media promotion needlessly marginalized all students and families who do not practice Christianity. As much as 38 percent of the American population is non-Christian, including the almost 30 percent who are nonreligious. More than half of Generation Z members (those born after 1996) are non-Christian, including the 43 percent who are nonreligious.
FFRF urged that to respect the constitutional rights of students and parents, Caddo Parish Public Schools must cease allowing the Gideons International and any other organizations to distribute bibles or other religious literature to students. Its call did not go unheeded.
"Please be advised that the staff at Herndon Magnet School has been advised to not allow the Gideons to distribute bibles during the school day at school," the general counsel for the Caddo Parish School Board recently replied in an email.
FFRF is pleased that its appeal to follow the Constitution fell on receptive ears.
"Religious groups and individuals should not be given access to a captive audience of vulnerable young children," comments FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "Religious instruction belongs with parents, not strangers exploiting our public schools. We're glad officials realized the impropriety of this when we raised concerns."
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 41,000 members across the country, including more than 100 members in Louisiana. Its purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/la-school-system-heeds-ffrf-call-to-ban-the-gideons/
[Category: Religion]
FFRF's 'Secular Spotlight' Explores the Weird World of AI-Generated Religion
MADISON, Wisconsin, June 3 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF's 'Secular Spotlight' explores the weird world of AI-generated religion
The latest episode of the Freedom From Religion Foundation's "Secular Spotlight" dives into the rapidly expanding world of AI-generated religious content.
FFRF Legal Counsel Chris Line and IT Director Scott Knickelbine welcome Taylor Leigh, known on YouTube as "The Antibot," to discuss how -- from AI Jesus chatbots to fake Christian influencers and political propaganda -- artificial intelligence is increasingly
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MADISON, Wisconsin, June 3 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF's 'Secular Spotlight' explores the weird world of AI-generated religion
The latest episode of the Freedom From Religion Foundation's "Secular Spotlight" dives into the rapidly expanding world of AI-generated religious content.
FFRF Legal Counsel Chris Line and IT Director Scott Knickelbine welcome Taylor Leigh, known on YouTube as "The Antibot," to discuss how -- from AI Jesus chatbots to fake Christian influencers and political propaganda -- artificial intelligence is increasinglybeing used to spread religious messaging and attract followers online. Leigh walks our hosts through the strange and rapidly growing intersection of religion and AI. The conversation examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping faith, online culture, misinformation and human connection.
"Why something like 'Text with Jesus' has such a good ranking and so many people are downloading it, has to do with the fact that we live in a world that's increasingly isolated, and when we're talking about religious folks, religious attendance in the last two decades has declined pretty sharply," Leigh says. "I think half of religious Americans actually attend church in person on a semi-regular basis, and so I think that there is this connection that a lot of people are longing for and they're no longer getting it in church."
You can catch this episode of "Secular Spotlight" on FFRF's YouTube channel, as well as by watching on your smart TV after downloading FFRF's free app, Freethought TV, which also highlights FFRF's other video programming. Our recent episodes include a news bite explaining a charter school victory in Colorado and another one answering viewer questions on Ask An Atheist Day. Make sure you're subscribed to FFRF's YouTube channel for all the latest updates!
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 41,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrfs-secular-spotlight-explores-the-weird-world-of-ai-generated-religion/
[Category: Religion]
FFRF Pushes for Ga. School District to Remove Unconstitutional 'Prayer Box'
MADISON, Wisconsin, June 3 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF pushes for Ga. school district to remove unconstitutional 'prayer box'
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that a middle school in Walton County School District (Monroe, Ga.) remove a box asking for students' prayers.
A concerned district community member informed the state/church watchdog that Youth Middle School is sponsoring an on-campus prayer box located in the school's media center on behalf of the First Baptist Church. A sign taped to the front of the box reads:
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MADISON, Wisconsin, June 3 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF pushes for Ga. school district to remove unconstitutional 'prayer box'
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that a middle school in Walton County School District (Monroe, Ga.) remove a box asking for students' prayers.
A concerned district community member informed the state/church watchdog that Youth Middle School is sponsoring an on-campus prayer box located in the school's media center on behalf of the First Baptist Church. A sign taped to the front of the box reads:"Prayer Request. How can we pray for you? Fill out a prayer request form and place it in this box." The prayer requisition form asks for name, prayer request and email for follow-up.
FFRF is calling for the district to immediately remove the prayer box.
"The district has a constitutional duty to remain neutral toward religion," FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence writes.
FFRF points out that Youth Middle School may not encourage students, staff or anyone else to pray or request prayer by sponsoring a church prayer box on school property. By giving a church access to the school to promote prayer to students, Youth Middle School -- and thus the school district -- needlessly marginalizes those students and community members among the 38 percent of Americans who are non-Christian, including the 43 percent of Generation Z members who are nonreligious.
FFRF will be closely monitoring the situation in order to ensure that the First Amendment rights of students are not further violated.
"A public middle school is not a church and should not be recruiting students for churches," FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor says. "A prayer box in a middle school not only violates the First Amendment, it tramples on parental control of their children's religious practices, and is a gross invasion of student privacy."
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 41,000 members across the country, including more than 600 members in Georgia. Its purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-pushes-for-ga-school-district-to-remove-unconstitutional-prayer-box/
[Category: Religion]
FFRF Pushes Back Against Wave of Texas Ten Commandments Displays
MADISON, Wisconsin, June 3 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF pushes back against wave of Texas Ten Commandments displays
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is objecting to a new Ten Commandments monument outside Amarillo City Hall -- the second such display in Texas that it has recently confronted.
The state/church watchdog has sent a letter to the Amarillo mayor and City Council members contending that statements made during the monument's dedication ceremony describing the biblical monument in explicitly religious terms demonstrate the
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MADISON, Wisconsin, June 3 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF pushes back against wave of Texas Ten Commandments displays
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is objecting to a new Ten Commandments monument outside Amarillo City Hall -- the second such display in Texas that it has recently confronted.
The state/church watchdog has sent a letter to the Amarillo mayor and City Council members contending that statements made during the monument's dedication ceremony describing the biblical monument in explicitly religious terms demonstrate thedisplay serving a religious purpose. Monument coordinator Trent Morgan stated that "all laws are based on a moral code and they come from the bible" and said the monument reflects "who we are as a people." Morgan also said that the display was intended to encourage future generations to believe in God and understand that they were created "in His image." During the ceremony, attendees prayed and proclaimed that Amarillo was being claimed for the Lord: "We're claiming this city for the Lord. No devil's going to come in here and take his heart, because we're going to stand up, we're going to fight for this city."
Such statements undermine any claim that this monument was installed for a so-called historical purpose. Furthermore, FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor notes, "There is no historic purpose for a city or other U.S. entity to display the Ten Commandments. These biblical edicts are not part of U.S. history, our Declaration of Independence, much less our godless Constitution, whose only references to religion are exclusionary."
FFRF Legal Counsel Chris Line has written to Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley: "Displaying the Ten Commandments in front of City Hall is not only an unconstitutional display of favoritism toward religion, it needlessly marginalizes and excludes city residents who do not share the religious beliefs that the Ten Commandments embody and represent."
The recent push to install Ten Commandments monuments on government property in Texas is a troubling trend.
"Public officials who seek to use government institutions to promote religious messages should be censured. They have no business telling citizens how many gods to worship, which gods to worship or whether to worship any gods at all!" says Gaylor. "The First Commandment is a clear and egregious violation of the First Amendment."
FFRF notes that the Amarillo monument comes on the heels of its separate challenge to a Ten Commandments display in Rockwall County just a few days ago.
FFRF explains that government-sponsored Ten Commandments displays alienate residents who do not share the religious beliefs represented by the monument and conflict with the constitutional principle that government must remain neutral on matters of religion. It is asking Amarillo officials to remove the monument and respect the rights of conscience of all city residents.
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 41,000 members and several chapters nationwide, including more than 1,700 members and a chapter in Texas. FFRF's purposes are to defend the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-pushes-back-against-wave-of-texas-ten-commandments-displays/
[Category: Religion]
Asia Foundation and Asian Art Museum Announce 2026 Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellows in Asian Art
SAN FRANCISCO, California, June 3 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:
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The Asia Foundation and Asian Art Museum Announce 2026 Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellows in Asian Art
The Asia Foundation and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco are pleased to announce Yi Shun Lim of Malaysia and Sso-Rha Kang of the United States as the 2026 Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellows in Asian Art.
Held every other year, the program supports two emerging curators--one from Asia and one from the United States--for a three-month residency and professional exchange at the Asian Art Museum
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, June 3 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:
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The Asia Foundation and Asian Art Museum Announce 2026 Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellows in Asian Art
The Asia Foundation and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco are pleased to announce Yi Shun Lim of Malaysia and Sso-Rha Kang of the United States as the 2026 Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellows in Asian Art.
Held every other year, the program supports two emerging curators--one from Asia and one from the United States--for a three-month residency and professional exchange at the Asian Art Museumin San Francisco.
This year's theme centers on community-centered curatorial practice: prioritizing curators whose work is grounded in community engagement and explores how curatorial practice can function as a form of relationship-building, shared knowledge production, and cultural exchange.
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Meet the 2026 Fellows
Sso-Rha Kang is an American educator and curator based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is presently the curator of The Carnegie in Covington, Kentucky. From 2021 to 2023, she was the director of galleries and outreach at Northern Kentucky University, where she curated exhibitions, performances, and public programs emphasizing cross-disciplinary collaboration. She has taught at the University of Cincinnati, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky University and curated exhibitions for The Weston in Cincinnati; Headlands Center for the Arts in Sausalito, California, and the Blaffer Art Museum in Houston, Texas. She was one of two consulting curators representing Ohio at the exhibition New Worlds: Women to Watch (2024) at the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and recently served as curator-in-residence of KADIST's Double Take program in San Francisco.
Yi Shun Lim is a Malaysian researcher focusing on Southeast Asian art. Her current research addresses questions of periodization, historiography, identity, and knowledge production. Yi Shun has presented at international venues, including the UCLA Art History Graduate Symposium and the 2023 Indonesia Council Open Conference at the University of Sydney. Her work is forthcoming in Antennae: The Journal of Nature in Visual Culture. At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she founded the Southeast Asian Arts and Culture Club and curated the Southeast Asian Film Festival to foster dialogue and exchange across Southeast Asian artistic networks. She earned an MA in modern and contemporary art history at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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About the Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellows in Asian Art
Established by Asia Foundation President Emeritus Ambassador Haydn Williams, the fellowship honors Margaret F. Williams, whose appreciation for Asian art was shaped by her travels throughout the region. The fellowship reflects a broader commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and representation in the curatorial field while supporting a new generation of cultural leaders.
The fellowship includes a three-month residency at the Asian Art Museum and a $7,500 award supporting a self-designed study tour following the residency. The fellows will be hosted by the Contemporary Art Department under the guidance of Abby Chen, curator and head of contemporary art. Located in the heart of San Francisco, the Asian Art Museum is one of the world's leading institutions dedicated to Asian and Asian American art and culture, with a collection spanning more than 20,000 works from across 48 countries.
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Original text here: https://asiafoundation.org/the-asia-foundation-and-asian-art-museum-announce-2026-margaret-f-williams-memorial-fellows-in-asian-art/
AIDS Foundation of Chicago: Resolute Advocacy of Community - 2026 End of Legislative Session Report
CHICAGO, Illinois, June 3 (TNSrpt) -- The AIDS Foundation of Chicago issued the following commentary by Timothy S. Jackson, senior director of policy and advocacy:
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The Resolute Advocacy of Community: 2026 End of Legislative Session Report
Concluding a frenzied last day of the 2026 spring legislative session, Illinois lawmakers passed a record $56 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget (HB111) in the early morning hours of Monday, June 1st.
Amid the harmful cuts to Medicaid in President Trump's harmful budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1, expiration of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium
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CHICAGO, Illinois, June 3 (TNSrpt) -- The AIDS Foundation of Chicago issued the following commentary by Timothy S. Jackson, senior director of policy and advocacy:
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The Resolute Advocacy of Community: 2026 End of Legislative Session Report
Concluding a frenzied last day of the 2026 spring legislative session, Illinois lawmakers passed a record $56 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget (HB111) in the early morning hours of Monday, June 1st.
Amid the harmful cuts to Medicaid in President Trump's harmful budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1, expiration of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premiumtax credits, and proposed federal HIV funding cuts, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) introduced a comprehensive 2026 advocacy agenda in February aimed to protect healthcare access, strengthen HIV prevention and care funding, and advance equity and justice for the Black, Latine, and LGBTQ+ communities impacted by HIV and homelessness.
"While the final state budget includes a slight increase to the HIV Lump Sum, it doesn't fully reflect the additional investments necessary to address the urgent need for sustained HIV prevention, treatment, and supportive services. With timely investments, Illinois can help alleviate the harmful impact of the ongoing implementation of H.R.1," said AFC President & CEO John Peller. "Over the coming months, we will continue working alongside lawmakers, advocates, and people living with HIV to stabilize our HIV care system and prevent new transmissions. Illinois can neither sustain a high-performing public health infrastructure, nor achieve its goal of ending the HIV epidemic, without adequate and sustainable funding."
AFC is proud to work with state lawmakers, coalitions, and workgroups to advance legislation that helps the people and communities we serve. Along with many of you, AFC was proud to have championed the following measures during the 2026 Spring legislative session:
Strengthening Funding for HIV Care and Prevention (HB4410/SB2814)
AFC was proud to advocate for a $6.5 million increase in state funding for HIV education, prevention, testing, and treatment in the state's Fiscal Year 2027 budget, as well as the restoration of nearly $1 million in state funding for PrEP Medication Assistance and STI screenings. This additional funding would have allowed the State to weather the estimated 5,000-7,500 Illinoisans living with HIV who will need Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (Illinois ADAP) coverage when they lose Medicaid coverage due to work requirements and other harmful changes mandated by the federal government. This legislation also included the protection of funding for the Getting to Zero Illinois (GTZ-IL) initiative and support of $15 million for the African American HIV/AIDS Response Fund (AAHARF) as outlined in HB4807/SB3615.
END OF SESSION STATUS: For the first time in the last five fiscal years, state legislators increased the HIV Lump Sum by $1 million. However, state lawmakers also cancelled funding for STI testing, treatment, and prevention and cut funding for PrEP medication assistance.
Here's a breakdown of the HIV-specific line items in the state's FY27 budget:
* $1 Million increase in funding for HIV treatment and prevention services, also known as the HIV Lump Sum ($26.5 million)
* $1.25 Million decrease in funding for grants and administrative expenses for the distribution of PrEP medication access ($242,861)
* Zero funding for grants and administrative expenses for STI testing, treatment, and prevention ($0)
* Level funding for the African American HIV/AIDS Response Act (AAHARA) that funds grants to Black-led community-based organizations ($7.8 million)
* Level funding for the GTZ Illinois Omnibus line item ($5.5 million)
* Level funding for the Quality-of-Life Endowment Fund for grants related to HIV/AIDS prevention and education ($1 million)
AFC is especially grateful for State Senators Mike Simmons (D-Chicago), Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) and Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) and State Representatives Norma Hernandez (D-Melrose Park), Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago), Nicolle Grasse (D-Arlington Heights), Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park) and Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), and the various legislative caucuses for their steadfast work in the General Assembly to champion increased funding for HIV prevention and treatment services. The state's FY27 budget passed the Illinois General Assembly on June 1, 2026, and now awaits Governor Pritzker's signature.
Addressing the Impact of Illinois' Opioid Crisis (HB2929)
The HIV epidemic and overdose crisis across Illinois are inextricably linked. People who use drugs are vulnerable to acquiring HIV--both related directly to sharing equipment for injection drug use and to the complex role drug use can play in sexual transmission. AFC was proud to support legislation that would establish an education program for community stakeholders on the benefits of overdose prevention sites (OPS), promulgate rules to authorize the establishment and maintenance of a pilot OPS, and require the Department of Human Services to prepare a report detailing its data collection regarding OPS within 12 months after the starting operation date of the OPS.
END OF SESSION STATUS: Although HB2929 passed out the House Mental Health & Addiction Committee on a bipartisan 15-7 vote, this legislation did not advance further in the state legislative process this session. As a member of the Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition (IHRRC), AFC will continue to work alongside harm reduction advocates and people with lived experience to advance this critical legislation in subsequent sessions of the Illinois General Assembly.
Removing Barriers to HIV Treatment and Prevention Medications (HB2584)
Prior authorization is a requirement by health insurance plans for patients to obtain approval of a health care service or medication before the care is provided. However, these requirements often cause delays for patients, including those with chronic conditions like HIV, and in turn, result in negative clinical outcomes. AFC was proud to support legislation that would ban prior authorization in health insurance plans for HIV treatment and prevention.
END OF SESSION STATUS: Although HB2584 was heard in a subject matter hearing in the Senate Insurance Committee in April, this legislation did not advance further in the state legislative process this session. AFC will continue to work alongside industry partners and our legislative champions State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) and State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) to advance this needed legislation in subsequent sessions of the Illinois General Assembly.
Enshrining Protections for LGBTQ+ Older Adults and People Aging with HIV (HB4359/SB2805)
As Illinois' population of LGBTQ+ elders and people aging with HIV continues to grow, AFC and Pride Action Tank were proud to support legislation that would establish an LGBTQ+/HIV Bill of Rights to ensure affirming, safe, and dignified care in long-term and home-based settings.
END OF SESSION STATUS: In March 2026, HB4359 passed out of the House Judiciary-Civil Committee in March on a 13-7 vote and SB2805 passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 6-3 vote. Unfortunately, neither piece of legislation advanced further in the state legislative process this session. AFC will continue to work alongside coalition partners and our legislative champions State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) and State Representative Nicolle Grasse (D-Arlington Heights) to advance this needed legislation in subsequent sessions of the Illinois General Assembly.
Conclusion
Later this week, we will commemorate the 45th anniversary since what would become known as the HIV epidemic first graced the pages of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Since that date, the HIV epidemic has been rooted in resilience, advocacy, mutual care, and community. To the advocates, activists, and allies that have done the work to move the HIV response forward, we say thank you. Your collective advocacy resulted in over 2,700 emails to state lawmakers in support of AFC's 2026 state legislative priorities and our Save Illinois ADAP Instagram & Facebook social media campaign content racked up more than 39,000 views! The stories and voices of advocates like you made the difference. For that and much more, we are grateful always. THANK YOU.
Although this state legislative session has ended, I encourage you to stay engaged in our advocacy work over the summer and fall by signing up for AFC's Mobile Action Network or visiting our Policy & Advocacy Action Center to participate in various local, state, and federal advocacy campaigns!
Many things have changed over the course of the last 45 years. But there's one thing that has remained the same--the resolute advocacy of community. With your help, we can continue moving forward in our efforts to end the HIV epidemic in Illinois by 2030-together.
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REPORT: https://www.aidschicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Advocacy-Agenda-2025-26_Jan26.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.aidschicago.org/the-resolute-advocacy-of-community-2026-end-of-legislative-session-report/
