WOODSTOCK - Gary Rabine, candidate for Governor, says the fact Governor JB Pritzker chose to sign the controversial sex education bill late on a Friday shows even he knows how insidious this legislation is for the children of this state.
“As Illinoisans across the state were gearing up for Family Day this weekend at the State Fair, our Governor signed legislation to effectively declare war on Illinois families,” Rabine said. “There is no justifiable reason to sexualize kindergartners. Signing this legislation is beyond irresponsible. Our children need to be protected and understand that their privacy is essential. Governor Pritzker should be ashamed of himself.”
The new (SB 818) would require schools to adopt the National Sex Education Standards beginning in kindergarten. Under the latest iteration of the standards, students starting in 6th grade will be taught how to define the meaning of oral and anal sex and third graders will be taught concepts such as masturbation. The bill passed without a single Republican vote.
“No wonder this atrocious bill was dropped late on a Friday afternoon,” Rabine said. “It is not the job of government to parent our children. It is not the job of government to teach third graders about masturbation. It is a sad day for our state.”
Rabine noted that there is an opt-out clause in the legislation that states:
“No student shall be required to take or participate in any class or course in comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education. A student’s parent or guardian may opt the student out of comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education by submitting the request in writing. Refusal to take or participate in such a course or program may not be a reason for disciplinary action, academic penalty, suspension, or expulsion or any other sanction of a student.”
“We need new leadership in Illinois, but until we have an election and vote out irresponsible leaders like JB Pritzker, parents must step up and take control of their children’s education,” Rabine said. “I urge every parent in Illinois to exercise this opt out option while it is still an option. My worry is that this bill is the trojan horse that eventually has no opt-out option, and our parents lose more freedoms over their children.”
