The state of Illinois has adopted numerous symbols over time.
The state of Illinois has adopted numerous symbols over time.
| Type | Symbol | Description | Adopted | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag | Flag of Illinois | 1969 |  | ||
| Centennial flag | Centennial Flag of Illinois | 1918 |  | ||
| Sesquicentennial flag | Sesquicentennial Flag of Illinois | 1968 |  | ||
| Seal | Seal of Illinois | 1867 |  |
| Type | Symbol | Description | Image | Law [notes 1] [1] | Adopted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amphibian | Eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) |  | 5 ILCS 460/85 | 2005 [2] | |
| Animal | White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) |  | 5 ILCS 460/45 | 1982 [2] | |
| Artifact | Pirogue | 5 ILCS 460/63 | 2017 [1] | ||
| Bird | Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) |  | 5 ILCS 460/10 | 1929 [2] | |
| Exercise | Cycling |  | 5 ILCS 460/67 | 2018 [1] | |
| Fish | Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) |  | 5 ILCS 460/50 | 1986 [2] | |
| Flower | Violet (Viola spp.) |  | 5 ILCS 460/40 | 1908 [2] [3] | |
| Folk dance | Square dance | 5 ILCS 460/65 | 1990 [4] | ||
| Fruit | Gold Rush Apple (Malus × domestica) |  | 5 ILCS 460/57 | 2007 [1] | |
| Fossil | Tully monster (Tullimonstrum gregarium) |  | 5 ILCS 460/60 | 1989 [3] | |
| Grain | Corn | 5 ILCS 460/56.5 | 2018 [5] | ||
| Horse | Thoroughbred horse (Equus caballus) |  | 5 ILCS 460/90 | 2006 [1] | |
| Insect | Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) |  | 5 ILCS 460/15 | 1975 [2] | |
| Mineral | Fluorite (Calcium fluoride) |  | 5 ILCS 460/25 | 1965 [3] | |
| Motto | "State sovereignty, national union" | 5 ILCS 460/5 [notes 2] | 1818 [6] | ||
| Nickname | "The Prairie State" | Traditional [3] | |||
| Pet | Shelter dogs and shelter cats | 5 ILCS 460/47 | 2017 [1] | ||
| Pie | Pumpkin pie |  | 5 ILCS 460/100 | 2016 [1] | |
| Prairie grass | Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) |  | 5 ILCS 460/55 | 1989 [3] | |
| Reptile | Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) |  | 5 ILCS 460/90 | 2006 [1] | |
| Rock | Dolostone | 2022 [7] | |||
| Slogan | "Land of Lincoln" | 5 ILCS 460/30 | 1955 [3] | ||
| Snackfood | Popcorn |  | 5 ILCS 460/80 | 2004 [1] | |
| Snake | Eastern milk snake |  | 5 ILCS 460/87 | 2022 [8] | |
| Soil | Drummer silty clay loam (mesic Typic Endoaquoll) | 5 ILCS 460/75 | 2001 [1] | ||
| Song | "Illinois" | 5 ILCS 460/35 | 1925 [9] | ||
| Tartan | Illinois Saint Andrew Society Tartan | 5 ILCS 460/95 | 2012 [1] | ||
| Theatre | The Great American People Show | 5 ILCS 460/70 | 1995 [1] | ||
| Tree | White oak (Quercus alba) (replaced "Native Oak" adopted in 1908) |  | 5 ILCS 460/40 | 1973 [2] [3] | |
| Vegetable | Sweet corn |  | 5 ILCS 460/56 | 2015 [1] | |
| Wildflower | Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) |  | 5 ILCS 460/43 | 2017 [1] | |
In response to court action in a number of states, the United States federal government and a number of state legislatures passed or attempted to pass legislation either prohibiting or allowing same-sex marriage or other types of same-sex unions.
Illinois is seen as one of the most progressive states in the United States in regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights and often viewed as one of the most liberal states in the Midwestern United States. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1962, after Illinois became the first U.S. state to repeal its sodomy laws. Same-sex marriage was banned by statute in 1996, but has since been legalized after a law allowing such marriages was signed by Governor Pat Quinn on November 20, 2013 and went into effect on June 1, 2014. Civil unions have been recognized since 2011, and same-sex couples are also allowed to adopt. Additionally, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is banned in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations, and conversion therapy on minors has been outlawed since 2016.
A state microbe is a microorganism used as an official state symbol. Several U.S. states have honored microorganisms by nominating them to become official state symbols. The first state to declare an Official State Microbe is Oregon which chose Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the Official Microbe of the State of Oregon in 2013 for its significance to the craft beer industry in Oregon. One of the first proponents of State Microbes was microbiologist Moselio Schaechter, who, in 2010, commented on Official Microbes for the American Society for Microbiology's blog "Small Things Considered" as well as on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered".
Kambium Elijah "Kam" Buckner is an American politician and attorney who serves as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 26th district. The district, located entirely in Chicago, includes neighborhoods such as Bronzeville, Downtown, Gold Coast, and Hyde Park, among others. Buckner is the past chair of the Illinois House Black Caucus and current Assistant Majority Leader for the House Democratic Caucus. In college, he played football for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team as an offensive tackle and defensive lineman.
