Dupage Policy Journal

Heather Brown, a candidate for Illinois State Senate District 25, has endorsed the Parents Matter Coalition's initiative to place a parental rights question on the state's November 2024 ballot. Brown is advocating for parents to insist that "child's healthcare" be included in the ballot, underscoring the importance of enhanced parental consent in medical decisions and restricting schools' ability to act without parental approval.

“Parents get involved and demand ‘child’s healthcare’ be on the ballot,” Brown said on Facebook. “Stop allowing the schools to be able to do as they please WITHOUT your consent!”

The Parents Matter Coalition’s statewide initiative is being led by former State Representative Jeanne Ives. The aim is to introduce a parental rights question on Illinois’ November 2024 ballot.

"We want it on the 2024 ballot, that means we need petition signatures," Ives told The Center Square. 

Her goal is to collect 500,000 signatures by March end in order to place the advisory question on the ballot. Ives clarified that while this initiative won't alter state law if successful, it aims at influencing lawmakers through public opinion.

The coalition argues for greater parental control over significant medical decisions involving minor children, such as abortions or gender identity procedures. The proposed question calls for written consent from a minor’s parent or guardian before any nonemergency medical procedure, medication, pharmaceutical or gender modification procedure can be administered.

The amendment reads as follows: "Shall the written consent from a minor’s parent or guardian be required before any entity, person, clinic or school can provide a minor (under the age of 18 years) any non-emergency medical procedure, medication, pharmaceutical, or any gender modification procedure, gender identification, gender-affirming counseling or gender therapy?"

Brown, an Independent Alderman of West Chicago, is recognized for her seven-year tenure and ability to bridge political divides. She is known for consistently voting "No" on levies, demonstrating a commitment to fiscal conservatism. Brown also takes pride in representing a large pro-life Hispanic religious population in West Chicago.

On her website, Brown highlights the challenges faced by expectant mothers: "Many expecting mothers live in fear or other issues may arise in their lives that they may not think life with a child is possible."

Currently, State Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) represents the State Senate District 25. The district includes all or parts of Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, West Chicago, South Elgin, Wayne and Bartlett. Villa holds the distinction of being the first Latina to represent District 25 as per her website.