Dupage Policy Journal

Awake Illinois is calling out state lawmakers for introducing a controversial mandatory sexual education bill without input from critics. 

The parent advocacy group has been following the legislation closely. 

“Groomer Bill 5188 - It snuck into Senate Executive Commi[t]tee late last night with zero transparency,” Awake Illinois said on Facebook. “Latest word from Springfield and possible action items: “Groomer Bill 5188 wants to make it required that districts sexualize children K-5 with comprehensive sex ed; no opting out as a district. Would be required to graduate! Groomer Bill 5188 is mad that most IL districts did opt out of comprehensive sex Ed. Sadly, districts like Chicago Public Schools and Palatine did not. Groomer Bill 5188 leverages the gay community to push a Marxist agenda to sexualize kids as young as 5.” 

Awake Illinois notes that there are “several democrat legislators worried" about HB5188 and emphasized that 'there is no Republican support for groomer bill 5188'. 

"Parents should call the democrat legislators this week—flood their offices with calls," the group said. “Do not support groomer bill 5188. I don’t want my children or community forced into comprehensive sex Ed”. Be respectful, short, and firm.” 

The group reminded the public that if their “district opted out of SB818 National Sex Ed Standards, demand the Superintendent and school board make a public statement to the legislature that their local authority is paramount.” The group is raising awareness by asking the community “What is your final straw, Illinois? Reap what you sow.” 

The bill is perceived as a way of mandating the sexual education standards included in SB 818 signed into law last year by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.  That law, unlike this one, allowed school districts to opt out. SB 818 law requires children as young as eight to be subjected to lessons on sexual education.  The law was billed as a way to standardize state and federal sexual education standards. 

The Illinois Association of School Boards issued a “call to action” against HB 5188, which has also used bill number SB 2226. The IASB included an appeal to members to contact legislators to express a lack of support. “Previous sex ed bills focused on the content of curriculum while still preserving local control around the decision to offer sex ed to all students. HB 5188 removes that local option and MANDATES the national sex ed curriculum standards for all schools,” IASB said.

Marsha McClary, a strategist, life planner, and mother who lives in Lake County, is one of the many critics lining up against comprehensive mandatory sexual education being pushed in the Illinois House. “Remember Illinois SB818 and how so many of us lobbied your school districts to opt-out?” McClary said on Facebook, Lake County Gazette reported. “It included teaching some very radical and inappropriate topics (see photos posted of the standards & link to full standards also below). Illinois has a new bill on the table House Bill 5188 adding these same radical sex ed standards to all Illinois schools.”