K. Sujata, President and CEO of the Chicago Foundation for Women wrote an op-ed for The Chicago Tribune about the sexual health education bill. Sujata references recent comments by Elizabeth Smart, the young Utah woman who was abducted and sexually abused in 2002, and how her abstinence-only school curriculum made her feel about sex before marriage:

"I thought, 'Oh my gosh, I'm that chewed up piece of gum, nobody rechews a piece of gum. You throw it away,'" she recently said. "And that's how easy it is to feel like you no longer have worth, you no longer have value. Why would it even be worth screaming out? Why would it even make a difference if you are rescued? Your life still has no value."

And the lesson she was taught has been repeated in Illinois classrooms.

Read the rest.

The Illinois Senate voted on May 14, 2013 to raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to 18, which means that 17-year-olds charged with misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies will be tried and sentenced in juvenile court rather than adult court.

The bill, which was approved by the House in April, heads next to Gov. Pat Quinn. Thirty-eight other states have already set 18 as the age for prosecution in adult court.

House Bill 2404 was approved by a vote of 40-10.

This bill will ensure that 17-year-olds receive the benefits of juvenile court jurisdiction, including mental health services, drug treatment, and community based services. Eighteen (18) is the age of majority in most laws in Illinois. Currently in Illinois, a young person under 18 years of age does not have the right to vote; cannot obtain a full driver’s license; cannot serve in the military; must abide by statewide curfew; cannot legally purchase tobacco, lottery tickets, or pornography; are identified as child victims in child abuse cases and cannot apply for entitlements or benefits.

Download the fact sheet.

The Rockford Register Star posted an article about HB 2675 -- the bill that would modernize the way sexual health information is taught in Illinois. Currently, there is no set standard for what is taught in sex ed throughout the state. This bill would ensure that schools are teaching age-appropriate, comprehensive and medically accurate information, so that students can make informed decisions about their health. The ACLU of Illinois has partnered with Planned Parenthood of Illinois and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago to promote advocacy and garner support for the bill.

 Brigid Leahy, director of government relations for Planned Parenthood Illinois, said the proposed legislation could help ensure quality sex education across the state.

“The only thing that would change is if a school is teaching sex ed, we want it taught well,” she said. “We have standards for other courses. This is no different.”

Read the entire thing.