Illinois House backs controversial ‘Equality for Every Family’ bill after Pritzker changes

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Illinois House concurs with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s amendatory veto to the Equality for Every Family Act, which supporters say modernizes parentage laws while critics warn it erodes traditional family values.

Supporters call House Bill 2568 a modernization of Illinois parentage laws that ensures all families, including LGBTQ+ and assisted-reproduction families, are recognized and protected under state law. The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Tray Katz-Muhl, D-Northbrook, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park,

David Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute, is an opponent of the bill.

“Lawmakers have once again chosen left-wing ideology over integrity,” Smith said. “It redefines what it means to be a mother, father and family. It doesn’t promote equality, it erases the natural and moral distinctions that God Himself ordained.”

Pritzker issued an amendatory veto after identifying a drafting error in the 86-page bill. Lawmakers say the issue involved a misplaced subsection in the state code, a technical oversight, not a policy change.

“It was a renumbering error that inadvertently deleted the subject of a sentence,” Katz-Muhl explained during the veto session last week. “We’re simply realigning it to match the intended bill.”

In a public statement, the Chicago Therapy Collective called the bill’s advancement “a massive win in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.”

“When my child was born, I was told I couldn’t be on his birth certificate because I am non-binary and in a queer relationship. Today, Illinois has taken a powerful step to right that wrong,” said Iggy V Ladden, executive director of the Chicago Therapy Collective in a news release earlier this year.

Smith argued that the law “deliberately severs parenthood from biology, marriage and Judeo-Christian tradition.

“It treats children as commodities and family formation as a contractual arrangement rather than a sacred trust grounded in the union of one man and one woman,” said Smith.

Harmon said in a news release the bill reflects “many ways to make a family” and ensures every child feels “loved and belongs.”

State Sen. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, says the act redefines parenthood itself.

“There are only two genders,” Chesney said on the Senate Floor during the spring 2025 legislative session. “This act replaces ‘father’ with ‘acknowledged parent’ and refers to mothers as ‘the person who gave birth.’ As a father, that’s offensive. For women, it should be equally so.”

Equality Illinois said the legislation fixes outdated laws that left non-biological parents, especially same-sex couples, without legal standing, calling it a win for families.

“The Equality for Every Family Act honors our state’s values of equality and inclusion and ensures that state law sees and respects every family in Illinois, especially LGBTQ+ families who are under relentless attack by the federal administration,” said Mike Ziri, director of Public Policy at Equality Illinois.

Smith strongly disagreed.

“Children have a God-given right to be known, loved and raised by their biological mother and father whenever possible,” Smith said. “By blurring the lines God gave us, Illinois descends further into moral chaos.”

Legal experts say the act aligns Illinois law with modern science and matches a dozen other states updating parentage, adoption and surrogacy rules.

“This critical legislation fills gaps in existing Illinois parentage law,” said Courtney Joslin, UC Davis Law Professor. “Having comprehensive parentage laws is critical for the security and stability of children and their families.”

The Senate must approve the governor’s amendatory veto before the bill can be finalized.

The governor’s amendatory veto is placed on the Senate calendar and is set to be heard on Oct. 28 2025.