Welcome to the Commission

The State of Illinois and Governor Pritzker are committed to fighting discrimination in Illinois based on the following protected classes identified in the Illinois Human Rights Act: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status (with regard to employment) ancestry, age (40 and over), order of protection status, marital status, familial status (with regard to housing), physical or mental disability, arrest record, military status, sexual orientation, and unfavorable discharge from military service.

The Commission adjudicates complaints of civil rights violations based on these protected classes in connection with the following areas: employment, real estate transactions, financial credit, public accommodations, and education.

The Commission provides a neutral forum for resolving complaints of discrimination filed under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Our primary responsibility is to make impartial determinations of whether there has been unlawful discrimination, as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. We strive to provide professional, competent, and considerate service to everyone who seeks information from us or who has a case before the Commission.

Please let us know if we may be of assistance to you.

About Us

The Illinois Human Rights Commission is dedicated to promoting freedom from unlawful discrimination as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. The Act forbids discrimination based on: sex, age, race, color, religion, arrest record, marital status, sexual orientation, physical and mental disability, citizenship status (with regard to employment), national origin, ancestry, unfavorable military discharge, familial status (with respect to real estate transactions), military status, sexual harassment, and orders of protection.

The Act forbids discrimination in employment, real estate transactions, higher education, public accommodations and access to financial credit. Our mission is to provide a neutral forum for resolving complaints of discrimination filed under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

Our primary responsibility is to make impartial determinations of whether there has been unlawful discrimination as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. We are also responsible for furnishing information to the public about the Act and the Commission.

To fulfill our mission, we strive to provide professional, competent, and considerate service to everyone who seeks information from us or who has a case before the Commission.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide a neutral forum for resolving complaints of discrimination filed pursuant to the Illinois Human Rights Act.

The Illinois Human Rights Commission is dedicated to promoting freedom from unlawful discrimination as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. The Act forbids discrimination based on sex, age, race, color, religion, arrest record, marital status, sexual orientation, physical and mental disability, citizenship status (with regard to employment), national origin, ancestry, unfavorable military discharge, familial status (with respect to real estate transactions), military status, sexual harassment, and orders of protection.

The Act forbids discrimination in employment, real estate transactions, education, public accommodations and access to financial credit.

Our primary responsibility is to make impartial determinations of whether there has been unlawful discrimination as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. We are also responsible for furnishing information to the public about the Act and the Commission.

To fulfill our mission, we strive to provide professional, competent, and considerate service to everyone who seeks information from us or who has a case before the Commission.

Commission History

On December 6, 1979, the then Governor James R. Thompson signed into law the Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/1-101 etseq. The Act created the broadest civil rights coverage for the people of Illinois in the history of the state. The Act created a bifurcated enforcement apparatus: a Department to investigate Charges of Discrimination, and a Commission to adjudicate complaints of civil rights violation in housing, employment, public accommodations and financial credit. Charges of Discrimination may be brought to the Department by individuals, groups and/or in certain circumstances, the Director of the Department of Human Rights. Either the Department or the complainant may file a Complaint of Civil Rights Violation with the Commission. Such complaints are adjudicated pursuant to Sections 8A-102 and 8B-102 of the Act.

The Commission consists of thirteen Commissioners and a staff which includes an Executive Director, a General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel, a Chief Administrative Law Judge, Hearings and Motion Judges and administrative operations staff.