An Elmhurst D205 Ally Of Conservative Activist?

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst conservative activist said Tuesday a local school board member signed a "Right to Parent" petition requiring a parent's consent for gender identification counseling, among other things.

Tom Chavez, who ran unsuccessfully for school board last year, thanked Elmhurst School District 205 board member Jim Collins for signing the petition, which supporters say advances parents' rights.

Chavez spoke at a school board meeting. Collins did not respond to the activist's comments. Nor did he return Patch's message left early Wednesday morning on his official email account.

"Right to Parent" supporters want a question about parents' rights to appear on the November statewide ballot. The referendum would be considered advisory, meaning it would not require the state to act.

The proposed referendum question reads, "Shall the written consent from a minor’s parent or guardian be required before any entity, person, clinic or school can provide a minor (under the age of 18 years) any non-emergency medical procedure, medication, pharmaceutical, or any gender modification procedure, gender identification counseling or gender therapy?"

At Tuesday's board meeting, Chavez said Collins was the only board member who took the time to learn about the petition and sign it.

"Thank you, Jim, for standing up for parents' rights," Chavez said.

Chavez said the request seemed simple, unless board members oppose parents' rights.

He accused state legislators of trying to strip away parents' rights.

"Radical progressives are no longer just indoctrinating and confusing children," Chavez said. "They are brazenly trying to use political muscle to drive a wedge between parents and their children."

In recent months, Chavez has turned his attention to LGBTQ issues. He has shifted his focus from opposing critical race theory, which is how he first drew local attention three years ago. At the time, the theory was a popular topic among conservatives.

In Chavez's case, he has provided no evidence the district was directly teaching critical race theory. He alleged the theory was taught in other forms.

In previous interviews, Chavez has said Collins is sympathetic to his views about school issues. To be sure, Collins is conservative on property tax matters. But he has largely stayed away from cultural issues.