Gov. Pritzker Takes Executive Action to Ensure Schools Have Tools to Be Affirming and Inclusive for Transgender, Nonbinary and Gender Nonconforming Students

Statement

Before joining the 49th annual Chicago Pride Parade, Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order to ensure schools statewide have the tools be affirming and inclusive for transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students.

"This executive order is one more step toward securing Illinois' place as a leader in equality and hope," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Under this executive order, ignorance is no longer an excuse for bigotry."

Executive Order 19-11 establishes a new Affirming and Inclusive Schools Task Force to examine best practices and directs the Illinois State Board of Education to take several steps to support transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students in schools.

ISBE will take a comprehensive approach to make schools more affirming and inclusive, including promoting LGBTQ students' rights in schools, providing published resources supporting LGBTQ students, and developing model policies or procedures to improve access to facilities, participation in physical education classes and school-based programs and activities, student records, names and pronouns and dress codes.

The task force will examine what schools across the state and nation are doing to ensure LGBTQ students have welcoming, safe, supportive and inclusive school environments and make recommendations to the governor's office by January 1, 2020. It will be comprised of 25 members appointed by the governor.

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