SPRINGFIELD (AP) — Governor Bruce Rauner and gay rights advocates say they’ve found common ground following a hostile election season.
 
Rauner and representatives of Equality Illinois and other advocacy groups met Friday for the first time since the Republican took office.
 
Rauner said he’ll direct state agencies to strictly enforce anti-discrimination laws. He’s also appointing a liaison from his office to the gay and lesbian community.
 
Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov called it a positive first step. He said they also discussed legislation to ban gay conversion therapy for minors. Cherkasov says he’s hopeful Rauner will support it, though the governor didn’t take a position on the bill.
 
Gay rights activists opposed Rauner’s bid for governor. They campaigned actively against him, including hanging a huge anti-Rauner banner along Chicago’s gay pride parade route.

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