Press Release:
January 21, 2025
Contact:
Edward Blum
edwardjayblum@gmail.com
703-505-1922
American Alliance for Equal Rights Files Lawsuit Challenging Illinois Law Requiring Race and Sex Disclosure for Nonprofits
The law forces qualifying nonprofits to gather and publicize a host of sensitive demographic data.
(Austin, Texas) – Today, the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois challenging Illinois Senate Bill 2930. The Bill, which was passed last year and went into effect on January 1, 2025, requires qualifying nonprofits to gather and publicize a host of sensitive demographic data about their staff and board members including their sexual preferences, race and ethnicity, and transgendered status.
AAER alleges this statutory requirement violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.
The complaint is attached.
The Alliance contends that SB 2930 offends the constitutional right to be free from state-ordered racial discrimination. As noted in the complaint, by forcing nonprofits to disclose their demographic data, the law has the effect of forcing them to discriminate when choosing officers and board members. This polarizing outcome was the expressed intent of the law’s sponsors.
Because of SB 2930, Illinois is the first—and, so far, only—State to require nonprofits to publicize their demographic data online. The reason for this requirement “is to nudge foundations … to diversify their boards.”
Edward Blum, president of AAER, said, “This statute’s purpose is to force nonprofits to classify individuals by race and sex and to compel them to hire people by race and sex. It is clearly unfair and illegal.”
Blum added, “Officers and board members of nonprofits should be selected based upon their individual talents, experience, and interests, not the color of their skin.”