Will County Gazette

Jen Monson, the Republican nominee for Illinois State Senate District 43, recently addressed 'the fight for our children and parental rights' in a Facebook post. Monson is set to compete against incumbent Democrat Rachel Ventura in the forthcoming general election.

"The fight for our children and for our parental rights is very real in Illinois," said jennifer Monson for IL Senate, Candidate, according to Facebook. "Have you signed the petition?"

In her Facebook post, Monson shared a link to the Illinois Family Institute along with an article penned by Tracy Smodilla, Project Director of the Parents Matter Coalition (PMC).

Screenshot of Jen Monson's March 28 Facebook post. | JenMonson4ILSenate43 Facebook page

Smodilla wrote, "We are so grateful for the thousands of volunteers from around Illinois, who have committed to the Parents Matter Coalition’s inaugural project, the 'Right to Parent' Ballot Initiative. It is sounding the alarm for years of egregious legislation in our state that has served only to widen the schism in the parent-child relationship and chip away at parental rights. A poll by ParentsRightsFoundation.org indicates that more than 90 percent of all voters agree that parents rights matter when making healthcare decisions for their minor child."

By April 15, PMC must gather 500,000 signatures for the Right to Parent ballot initiative to be included on the November ballot and presented to Illinois voters. According to PMC, this ballot advisory question can be added without undergoing a legislative process. Although non-binding, it is described as "the best gauge of public opinion," allowing Illinois voters' voices to be heard.

PMC's mission revolves around "helping parents and the community reclaim and restore the rights for parents and guardians to parent their minor children, free from government overreach." Currently, PMC is pushing an active ballot initiative aimed at adding an advisory question on public policy regarding parental rights onto November's ballot. The proposed question reads: "Shall written consent from a minor’s parent or guardian be required before any entity, person, clinic or school can provide a minor (under 18 years) any non-emergency medical procedure, medication, pharmaceutical or any gender modification procedure, gender identification counseling or gender therapy?"

Monson, the Republican nominee for Illinois State Senate District 43, ran unopposed in the primary election. As stated on her campaign website, Monson is an educator and school board member who aims to "work to maintain citizen rights and their ability to exercise their God-given rights to exist and live freely without unconstitutional government overreach."