Illinois governor passes bill that updates state’s education standards to ensure that second graders learn to “define gender, gender identity, and gender-role stereotypes”

On August 20, 2021, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a new bill into law known as “Senate Bill 818.” In a press release, the governor stated that “modernizing our sex education standards will help keep our children safe and ensure important lessons like consent and internet safety are taught in classrooms.” The press release explains that the new law brings the state’s “sexual health education into the 21st century by adding new personal health and safety education standards in kindergarten through 5th grade, and making comprehensive health education more inclusive in grades 6 through 12.”

The Twitter account “Libs of Tik Tok” tweeted that the law updated Illinois education standards so that “grades K-2 should learn about gender, gender identity, and gender stereotypes.” The new education standards also allow “grades 3-5 [to] learn about masturbation, puberty blockers, and trans children.” One document included in the tweet states that second graders in Illinois should “define gender, gender identity, and gender-role stereotypes” before the end of the school year. The tweet also included an image of a “Genderbread Person” that is often used to teach children that “gender identity” and “gender expression” are on a spectrum.