85% Coalition Collection

Collection

Identifier: 2010-1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the collection is made up of emails from the main 85% Coalition listserv and two specialized listservs, Equality at Carle and C-U At the Altar. The collection also includes photographs, songs used at protests, news clippings, correspondence, fliers, and legislative documents.

Dates

1999 - 2005
Majority of material found within 2001 - 2005

Conditions Governing Access

No known restrictions. No donor restrictions. Standard restrictions apply (see G/H “Confidentiality Agreement” for archives use).

Biographical / Historical

The 85% Coalition was founded in 1999 in Champaign-Urbana, IL by Kimberlie Kranich and Mary Lee Sargent. Taking their name from a 1998 Illinois survey conducted by the University of Illinois at Springfield where 85% of respondents answered affirmatively with the question “Do you think there should or should not be equal rights for gay and lesbian people in terms of job opportunities and housing?”, they used direct action organizing to raising awareness of discrimination against LGBT people and to pass LGBT rights legislation.

The coalition initially began with the fight to include “sexual orientation” to the Illinois Human Rights Acts. While demonstrating in support of House Bill 101, several members were arrested and faced misdemeanor charges, though the charges were ultimately dismissed. The coalition also worked in support of Lynn Sprout, a nurse who filed a complaint before the Urbana Human Rights Council after being fired for coming out at her job with the Carle Foundation Hospital. The 85% Coalition also worked for marriage equality and on other local and national politics.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Materials were originally grouped by topic and contained in manila envelopes. The originally grouping is preserved, but series are further broken down chronologically.

Physical Location

C2F (Row C, Bay 2, Shelf F)

Provenance

The collection was donated by two members of the Coalition. Mary Lee Sargent donated materials from 1999 – 2001 on June 7, 2009. The remainder was sent by Meg Miner on June 12, 2010. The condition was good and largely arranged in manila envelopes by subject.