While Governor George Ryan has voiced his support for a bill adding sexual orientation to the list of protected categories in the Illinois Human Rights Act, one of his possible successors sees problems with the legislation.

Attorney General Jim Ryan, the Republican candidate for governor, has said he would only support the bill if exceptions were made for religious organizations and “values-based” organizations like the Boy Scouts, said Eric Robinson of Ryan’s Chicago headquarters.

Congressman Rod Blagojevich, the Democratic candidate for governor, was a chief sponsor of the legislation during his time as a state representative. Blagojevich supports not only civil rights for Illinois’ gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens, but also same-sex marriages, an issue not addressed in House Bill 101, according to his campaign Web site. .

House Bill 101, The Human Rights Act, passed in the House last year with 60 votes – the minimum for a bill to pass – and has since been lingering in the Senate Rules Committee. Similar statutes have passed in individual cities.

The bill defines sexual orientation as “having or being perceived as having an emotional, physical or sexual attraction to another person without regard to the sex of that person or having or being perceived as having a self-image or identity not traditionally associated with one’s biological sex.”

According to an analysis of gay rights bills moving through state legislatures by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Illinois is the only state to include protection based on gender identity in its bill.

The Human Rights Act, which is what House Bill 101 would amend, prohibits discrimination on the “basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service.”

The act applies to matters of employment, real estate, credit and public accommodations.

The act has a provision that allows landlords of an owner-occupied residence of less than five units to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. It also clarifies that the term sexual orientation does not refer to an adult’s attraction to a minor and that the act ought not be construed to enforce preferential treatment on the basis of sexual orientation.

State Representative Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, said he has voted against the bill because uncertainty exists about whether sexual orientation is a choice. While religion may be considered a choice, Righter said, freedom of religion is one of the principles upon which America was founded.

“When we talk about sexual preference, some say it is a lifestyle choice and some say it’s not,” Righter, who is now running for the Illinois Senate, said Tuesday. “As long as that uncertainty is out there, I have a hard time supporting the bill.”

His problem with the bill doesn’t stem from a “bias or dislike for someone because of their sexual preference.”

Righter said the decision of how to vote on this issue was tougher than most.

Sarah Newton, a junior political science major and co-president of Eastern’s Pride organization, said that lack of protection for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people makes them vulnerable to firing or eviction on the basis of their sexual orientation, real or perceived.

“We support this bill because as of right now in the majority of the state of Illinois, homosexuals, bisexuals and transgendered or those who are thought to be anything other than straight people can be evicted from their homes by their landlord, can be fired from their jobs and can be denied credit transactions and loans on the basis that they are not heterosexual,” Newton said.