By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

Activists in the African American GLBT community last week heralded Illinois legislators for overriding a veto by Gov. Rod Blagojevich and establishing a lottery scratch-off game with proceeds dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

Public Act 95-0674, enacted over the governor’s objections Oct. 17, creates a “Quality of Life” endowment fund with monies from a lottery scratch-off game. Proceeds are to be used by the Illinois Department of Public Health for HIV/AIDS prevention education and for grants to public and private organizations in Illinois that serve disproportionately affected communities.

The legislation, sponsored in the Illinois House by state Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Broadview) and in the Senate by state Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago), passed after heavy lobbying by community activists.

Michael O’Connor said he made weekly trips to Springfield with fellow activists Ben Montgomery and Marc Loveless to talk up the legislation.

“We talked to as many people as would talk to us,” O’Connor said.

They were sometimes joined by others from the community.

“We had older African American straight women who came through for us. They’d say to the legislators, ‘You’re going to do this, or you won’t see me on election day,’” O’Connor said.

After passing both houses, the legislation hit a stumbling block when it was returned with an amendatory veto from Blagojevich, who authorized only two special-purpose scratch-off tickets at any given time, with each game lasting only nine months.

The changes were overridden in the Senate 39-8 Oct. 3 and in the House 72-38 Oct. 11.

“I’m just glad there are checks and balances,” O’Connor said.

The bill creates an 11-member advisory board to review grant proposals and make recommendations to IDPH. The board is to be made up of two members appointed by the speaker of the House; two appointed by the president of the Senate; two appointed by the governor, one of whom will serve as chair; and three members appointed by the director of IDPH. The legislation authorizes funding for large-, mid-, and small-sized organizations. The game expires at the end of 2012.

O’Connor also credited former state Rep. Larry McKeon, Rep. Danny Davis and officials from AIDS Foundation of Chicago for helping to lobby for the bill’s passage.

“A lot of people said we shouldn’t depend on gaming. The fact is, they’re not giving any other solutions,” added O’Connor. “If gambling can fund education, it can fund HIV (prevention).”

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Chicago) hosts a reception to celebrate the introduction of the Quality of Life lottery game Nov. 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.