Value-based community programs have little to fear of new legislation barring discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Illinois’ 93rd General Assembly passed changes in the Human Rights Act that will regard sexual orientation as a protected class.

The changes ban discrimination in areas including jobs, housing and credit, among others.

Within the community, some people are worried the law could be used in a different way.

“The law might be a wedge to dictate what we can and cannot do,” said Father Michael Black of the Newman Catholic Student Center.

A Catholic grade school teacher who publicly leads a homosexual lifestyle is something that goes against our beliefs, Black said.

“The church is committed to its values and to the community that it shares values with,” Black said.

Margaret Cook, director of the NIU Lesbian Bisexual Gay and Transgender Resource Center, said this new state law will have effects far beyond the DeKalb area.

“Now when people leave the university and go home they will have the same protections as they have had here,” Cook said. “The basic protection against discrimination that many people take for granted will be available to everyone in the state.”

Churches will not be forced to change membership requirements under the new state legislation.

“This law does not force people- it provides protection in very specific ways that do not contradict the rights given to religion by the First Amendment,” Cook said.

Cook said she understands some churches are discriminatory.

“Those churches that do not agree with the principle of nondiscrimination still can discriminate,” Cook said.

The new state law will help prevent discrimination, but in DeKalb, law has existed since 1998 to protect people from sexual orientation discrimination.

“Day to day activities will stay the same because DeKalb already had a similar law in place,” Assistant City Attorney Dawn Didier said. “This act will not force anyone to give preferential treatment or special rights based on sexual orientation or to implement affirmative action policies or programs based on sexual orientation.”

The city has had an anti-discrimination law in the books since 1998 and the university has had an anti-discrimination policy in place since 1989.