McLean County Times

The Illinois Senate Executive Committee approved bills that would make changes to sex education in Illinois schools and also decriminalize the transmission of HIV. 

These changes generated criticism in some circles, despite also having proponents. 

"Yesterday I spoke against Senate Bill 818, a bill that would rewrite existing state standards for sex education," said Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin in a tweet on May 21. "The bill would significantly limit local control over sexual education by requiring school districts to either teach the new standards as written or nothing at all. These standards were formulated by advocacy groups from outside of the state. If you OPPOSE these controversial standards, reach out to your Representative and tell them to vote NO."

Senate Bill 818 mandates that schools include “comprehensive personal health and safety education and comprehensive sexual health education” in their sex education curriculum. SB 818 also ensures that there will be educational materials specifically tailored to LGBT students, students with disabilities and students with children. The bill also changes the definition of "medically accurate" and "culturally appropriate" in statutes to mean sex education that is affirming of gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and sexual behavior. 

Another change made by the bill is the removal of abstinence-only sex education. Parents have the freedom to opt their children out of the new sex education classes.