PRAIRIE STATE WIRE: Statewide effort to have parents’ rights question on 2024 ballot

This article was originally printed by the Prairie State Wire.

The Parents Matter Coalition (PMC) is leading a movement to put the issue of parents’ rights on the Illinois 2024 ballot. They have submitted a Petition of Advisory Question of Public Policy with the question, “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 nonemergency medical procedure, medication, pharmaceutical, or any gender modification procedure, gender identification counseling or gender therapy?”

According to spokesperson Mary Kate Zander, the PMC believes that requiring parental consent for major medical decisions is common sense. Zander stated, “Minors often need parent permission – to get their ears pierced, to go on field trips, and to purchase medication, for example. It is common sense that they should also require parental consent when making major medical decisions, like the decision to take hormone blockers or to obtain an abortion. For the vast majority of parents, this is a no-brainer. That’s why we believe this initiative will receive widespread support.”

The PMC has made the petition forms and instructions available on their website. The forms include directions for legally circulating the petition and specify whose signatures are eligible to be counted. The completed petition forms must be submitted back to the PMC by April 1, 2024. Partially completed petitions will also be counted. If the PMC receives a minimum of 500,000 signatures before April, the policy question will appear on the 2024 ballot.

The PMC is a part of the Illinois Right to Life Action and was formed by a group of Illinois residents who believe that minor children require the guidance of their parents, especially when faced with life-altering medical decisions. The Coalition created the ‘Right to Parent’ initiative, as they are calling the ballot petition, to prevent government overreach in the lives of children.