The 1970 Constitution of the State of Illinois provides as follows
in Article I:
" . . . no person shall be denied any civil or political right,
privilege or capacity on account of his religious opinions . . ."
(Section 3)
" . . All persons shall have the right to be free from discrimination
on the basis of race, color, creed, national ancestry and sex in .
. . the sale or rental of property . . ." (Section 17)
"The equal protection of the laws shall not be denied or abridged
on account of sex by the State or its units of local government and
school districts." (Section 18)
"All persons with a physical or mental handicap shall be free
from discrimination in the sale or rental of property . . ." (Section
19)
The Congress of the United States has provided that "it is the
policy of the United States to provide, within constitutional limitations,
for fair housing throughout the United States" and has established
by law the following provisions:
". . . it shall be unlawful:
A. To refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer,
or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise
make available or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race,
color, religion, sex, familial status or national origin."
B. To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges
of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provisions of services
or facilities in connection therewith because of race, color, religion,
sex, familial status or national origin . . ."
Unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context,
as used in this chapter the following terms shall have the meanings
ascribed in this section:
DISCRIMINATE or DISCRIMINATION
Any difference expressed in any way toward a person or persons
in the terms of the sale, exchange, lease, rental or financing for
housing accommodation and/or real property in regard to such sale,
exchange, rental, lease or financing because of race, color, religion,
national origin or ancestry, sex, familial status, creed, or physical
or mental handicap of such person.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
Any person, institution or business entity of any kind who
or which loans money to persons and receives as security for said
loans a secured interest of any kind in the real property of the borrower.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATION
Includes any building, structure, or portion thereof which
is used or occupied, maintained, arranged or designed to be used or
occupied as a home, residence or sleeping place of one or more human
beings, or any real estate so used, designed or intended for such
use.
OWNER
Any person/persons who hold legal or equitable title to,
or owns/own any beneficial interest in any real property or who hold
legal or equitable title to shares of, or holds/hold any beneficial
interest in any real estate cooperative which owns any real property
and/or housing accommodations.
REAL ESTATE BROKER
Any person, partnership, association, corporation and/or
agent thereof who or which, for a fee or other valuable consideration,
offers, sells, purchases, exchanges or rents, or negotiates for the
sale, purchase, exchange or rental of a housing accommodation and/or
real property of another, or collects rental for the use of a housing
accommodation and/or real property of another.
REAL PROPERTY
Any real estate, vacant land, building, structure or housing
accommodations within the corporate limits of the Village.
Any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this
chapter shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more
than $1,500. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate
violation. This section shall in no way abrogate or impair the right
of the Village to specifically enforce, by any legal means, any of
the provisions of this chapter.