Kelly Burke Joins Task Force To Crack Down On Sexual Harassment

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- Harvey Weinstein. Roy Moore. Bill O’Reilly. Charlie Rose. As women in Illinois and across the country continue to find their voice and demand an end to sexual harassment and discrimination, state Rep. Kelly Burke (36th District) was appointed serve on the Illinois State House’s newly created Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment charged with researching new policies that will combat harassment in both state government and the private sector. The task force is set to meet on Nov. 29.

“It is clear we have a problem in our country when it comes to sexual harassment and discrimination, and we must take action to change our culture,” Burke said in an announcement about her appointment. “As a mother, I want my daughters and all young women to know they have the right to live and work in an environment free from harassment and discrimination.”

Burke joined her colleagues earlier this month to pass legislation creating a task force to conduct a comprehensive review of the legal and social consequences of sexual discrimination and harassment in both the public and private sector. The task force will make recommendations to the General Assembly to combat this behavior. A similar task force has been established in the Illinois Senate.

A letter circulating Springfield was signed by 130 legislators, lobbyists, attorneys and directors of nonprofit groups, described crude jukes, unwanted groping and widespread harassment involving male political candidates and those in legislative leadership positions.

Illinois State Senator Ira Silverstein was forced to step down from the Senate Democratic leadership team last month amid sexual harassment allegations against him. Debra Rotheimer, an Illinois lobbyist and a GOP candidate for the state house in Grayslake, alleged that Silverstein used "tactics" and "mind games" to invade her privacy and personal space. Most of the alleged harassment came through private messages on Facebook and texts.

“I think [the Illinois General Assembly] is taking it seriously,” Burke said. “We shouldn’t only be looking at what goes on in government but other industries.

An eye-opener for Burke was a conference she attended last year about sexual harassment in the hospitality and restaurant industry, which resulted in the “Pants On, Hands Off” study and campaign.

“The results were absolutely shocking about what women in these industries encounter,” Burke said. “A lot of the issues we’ve been talking about we have the voice and power to highlight and address these in the government sphere. Most women who experience this type of harassment felt they weren’t being heard.”

About 40 legislators have signed on to the task force, Burke said. Included are large number of male legislators. Burke thinks her male colleagues’ intentions are sincere, not because an election is coming up.

“There will be an opportunity to have numerous voices,” she said. “I got a lot of thoughtful, caring guys in my life who’ve never done this who are appalled. I think the vast majority of men are concerned about this as well and want it stop. They have mothers, sisters and daughters.”

Burke is on record for cosponsoring a package of legislative measures to crack down on sexual harassment in state government, ensure offenders are brought to justice, and that steps are taken to continue combating workplace discrimination and harassment in both the public and private sector. She also supported legislation ensuring that the newly appointed legislative inspector general has enough time to complete investigations of all complaints pending, despite a one-year statute of limitations.

“I would love to be able to be part of an effort that can really find some profound ways to bring attention to the problems of sexual harassment and reduce it,” Burke said. “I’m a female working an arena where there are lots of men. I have two daughters, I wouldn’t want them to experience this in school or the workplace. I’m doing this for our girls.”

The jury is still out whether or not sexual harassment and abuse can be eliminated -- or at least severely curtailed -- from the workplace and schools. Burke thinks the task force is a good start.

“Are we gong to eliminate it, probably not,” she said. “I think the awareness and the opportunity for people to reflect on how they treat others in the workplace and recognize that some behavior or comments deemed unwelcome from co-workers is going to be a plus. Are going to stop the next Harvey Weinstein, I don’t know.”

Photo: Rep. Kelly Burke (36th District) | Used with permission