(20 ILCS 4070/5)
Sec. 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds as follows: (1) The population and demographic makeup of the State of Illinois make the appreciation, tolerance, and acceptance of diverse cultures imperative. (2) No person or group of people should have to live in fear because of their race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. (3) The manifestation of discrimination in the form of violence has a negative impact not only on the victim, but also his or her community, and can have a lasting adverse effect on our society. (4) Stereotypical thinking and biases still plague our society. (5) Illinois has a strong tradition of combating discrimination and hate-based violence by statutorily addressing crimes such as aggravated battery, theft, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, and telephone harassment committed because of the victim's race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. (6) We must continue to work to build a society that is bias and hate free so that our children are protected against discrimination, punishment, and violence that are based on race, ethnicity, color, creed, religious belief, sexual orientation, or social status. (Source: P.A. 95-425, eff. 8-24-07.)