WASHINGTON, D.C. — Attorney General Pamela Bondi has moved to intervene in American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Bennett, a lawsuit challenging an Illinois law requiring nonprofits to publicly disclose demographic data on their leadership.
The Illinois statute mandates that nonprofits report the race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity of their officers and directors. Supporters say the law promotes transparency and diversity, while opponents argue it forces organizations to consider race and other factors in a way that violates constitutional protections.
“The United States cannot and will not sit idly while a state denies its citizens equal protection under the guise of diversity,” Bondi said in a statement, calling the law discriminatory.
Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle echoed that stance, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling on race-based policies and stating that the intervention aims to enforce constitutional equal protection guarantees.
The lawsuit marks a key legal battle in the broader national debate over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and their place in public and private institutions.