When Chicago Public Schools students head back to their schools next month, any school with kids in the 5th grade and up will offer birth control.

When Chicago Public Schools fully reopen late next month for the first time since the start of the pandemic, students will be returning to schools stocked with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, masks, forehead thermometers and air purifiers.

But nearly every CPS school will also have items that experts say will keep students healthy and safe regardless of the status of the pandemic: menstruation products and condoms.

Both will be provided as the result of a new policy passed by the CPS Board of Education in December. A similar action that will require all schools in Illinois provide menstruation products generated far more attention this spring when it was passed by state lawmakers in Springfield.

Under the CPS policy, schools that teach fifth grade and up must maintain a condom availability program as part of an expanded vision of sexual health education. That means all but a dozen, which enroll only younger grades, of the more than 600 CPS schools will have condoms.

The idea was years in the making and, though it may come with some controversy, was what many experts agreed was a step in the right direction for student health, CPS’ top doctor Kenneth Fox said in an interview last week. Until now, principals have had massive leeway to use their own discretion on sex-related education and resources.

“Young people have the right to accurate and clear information to make healthy decisions,” said Fox, a pediatrician of 30 years. “And they need access to resources to protect their health and the health of others as they act on those decisions.”

Preventing ‘bad stuff’ is key, CPS top doc says

Fox said the goal is prevention.

“Essentially what we want to do is make condoms available to students for if and when they think they need them,” he said. “ … When you don’t have those protections and don’t make those resources available then bad stuff happens to young people. You have elevated risks of sexually transmitted infections, of unintended pregnancies, and that’s very preventable stuff.”

To start, elementary schools will get 250 condoms and high schools — many of which already make them available — will get 1,000. The Chicago Department of Public Health will provide the condoms at no cost to the district as part of the city’s effort to prevent teen pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. When a school runs out, principals will be told to request more from CPS and CDPH.

Schools will get a letter from Fox explaining the policy to parents, and principals will receive guidance for where to store the condoms and how to operate the program. The condoms should be in easily accessible locations in the school while also not too out in the open so there’s still privacy for students, Fox said.

“I would expect that not everybody is going to be completely on board right from the start, but I do think society has changed,” Fox said.

Asked why fifth grade was the target year, Fox said that decision was “informed by a developmental understanding of children,” and he didn’t believe there would be any adverse effects on younger kids.

In alignment with state standards, CPS’ sex ed curriculum includes lessons on puberty, hygiene, gender identity, relationships, sexual harassment, birth control, abstinence and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

“CPS stresses that choosing to not have sex is the norm for 5th graders. Parents/guardians should be notified by their school if a condom demonstration will be provided,” the curriculum reads.

Parent education will be key to making families comfortable, and so will staff training so educators can have discussions with parents since local schools are likely to be their first stop, Fox said.

LinkedIn

Expert: Providing condoms does not encourage their use

Scout Bratt, an outreach and education director at the Chicago Women’s Health Center, said there will be plenty of parents who don’t believe this program is right for their family, and it’ll be the district’s responsibility to listen to those concerns and offer direct communication about what condom availability does and doesn’t mean.

“I want to be really clear that the existence of condoms does not mean that all students are going to be using those condoms or encouraged to use them,” Bratt said. “The idea is to say we are educational centers, we are community health centers essentially, and we know to invest in young folks’ health and well-being by providing comprehensive sex ed, it means we also need to provide the resources.

“We want students to come to us and to have access to those condoms for free as opposed to potentially having to find them elsewhere or choose not to use condoms. … It is about recognizing that school is investing in young people’s health.”

Bratt said there’s no evidence to suggest access to condoms will lead to more kids deciding to have sex. The idea is that those who are already making those decisions will now have an easier way to protect themselves.

“It’s a harm reduction approach,” Bratt said.

The Women’s Health Center is one of 28 organizations, including local hospitals, that CPS consulted through a sexual health advisory committee created in 2019, the district said. Faith leaders from different religions and parts of the city were also engaged.

In addition to condoms, CPS’ sexual health policy calls for free menstrual products in at least one bathroom in every school. State lawmakers in May passed legislation requiring menstrual products in school bathrooms despite Republican objections about tampons, pads or cups being available to transgender boys in male-designated restrooms.

Fox said offering free menstrual products was a matter of “equity and justice” because many don’t have access for financial reasons, or so-called “period poverty.” Bratt said that can lead to people missing school while menstruating, a dire educational impact — and added that it’s important to provide resources to those who menstruate no matter their gender identity.

Instagram/Healing to Action

CPS is doing things backwards, parent says

Maria Serrano, whose daughter is heading into her sophomore year in high school, said condoms would be a helpful resource as long as sex education is up to par.

But Healing to Action, a grassroots organization that works to address the root causes of gender-based violence and advocates for improved sex ed, has found that isn’t the case.

The group has said it discovered through a 2018 public records request that 70% of CPS schools weren’t properly implementing the existing sex ed requirements, with schools that serve majority Black and Brown students disproportionately falling short.

Healing to Action also criticized CPS’ new sex ed policy in December, saying it doesn’t do enough to ensure qualified educators are teaching sexual health and doesn’t provide parents with enough resources to have conversations with their children at home. Teachers now will be required to undergo only 90 minutes of training to earn a four-year certificate for sex ed. They previously needed to participate in a six- to eight-hour training session.

Serrano, a parent advocate working with Healing to Action, said education and communication have to come before condom availability. She only knew about the new program because of her advocacy work but has heard no communication from CPS as a parent.

“My question is, ‘Oh my God, how is it that CPS wants to give condoms to kids?’” Serrano asked in Spanish. “They are 10 years old, 11, 12. They are kids. So why is CPS thinking about providing condoms? Why not provide them information, and at the end give them the resource of a condom when they are prepared to use those resources they want to provide. For me, this isn’t the best option. They are doing things backwards.”

Serrano said parents in her Little Village neighborhood may be shocked to find out about the condom program because they have very little information and their kids aren’t all getting quality sex ed.

“Why not educate us as parents? In my case I come from Mexico, it is taboo for [kids to] talk to parents about these topics. In communities that are majority Latino, we are not prepared to talk about these topics with our kids.”

The legal battle persists between Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) and a teacher who was suspended for opposing the school district’s policy about transgender pronouns, as opposing sides argue over whether the Virginia Supreme Court should revisit the case.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative legal group representing the teacher, Byron “Tanner” Cross, said it is asking the state Supreme Court to reject an appeal from the school district, which seeks to repeal a lower court’s injunction mandating that Cross be reinstated to his teaching position.

Cross, who teaches physical education at Leesburg Elementary School, was placed on leave in May after he spoke out against a proposed rule that would require teachers and staff to address students by their preferred gender-identity pronouns. He addressed LCPS school board during a public meeting in which the proposal was discussed, saying he “will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl, and vice versa,” because that would violate his Christian beliefs.

“I love all of my students but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences,” Cross had said. “I’m a teacher but I serve God first and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because it’s against my religion.” . . .

Transgender woman ‘with a beard and a penis’ got in a hot tub with her daughter, 6, at LA spa more than a YEAR before this weekend’s clashes over child exposure incident in female steam room

• A woman spoke out of an uncomfortable encounter between the transgender woman at the spa, which saw violent protests over a separate incident Saturday
• She said the incident occurred more than a year ago, and described the uncomfortable situation in which the woman sat next to her daughter, naked
• She described the woman as having ‘a beard and a penis’, and said they were not ‘making any attempt to look like a woman whatsoever’
• She said she wanted clarify the situation after the protests, which she attended, noting that it wasn’t just between transphobes and Antifa activists
• Saturday’s clashes broke out after a separate viral video in which a customer is complaining to staff at Wi Spa in LA about the transgender woman
• Do you know the identity of the woman? Email newsUS@mailonline.com

by Jennie Taer

The State Department will allow people to choose their gender on passports, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Wednesday.

The State Department will let people “self-select their gender as ‘M’ or ‘F’” and will waive the required medical certification for individuals whose gender on their citizenship or ID doesn’t match their “self-selected gender,” Blinken said.

Blinken also said his department was also working toward adding “non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons” gender markers for passport applicants.

“The Department of State is committed to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people – including LGBTQI+ persons,” Blinken said.

“Since assuming office, President Biden has taken several executive actions demonstrating this administration’s commitment to human rights and has directed agencies across the U.S. government to take concrete actions to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world,” he continued.

He added: “Today, I am pleased to announce that the Department will be taking further steps toward ensuring the fair treatment of LGBTQI+ U.S. citizens, regardless of their gender or sex.”

Today we are taking important steps toward ensuring the fair treatment of LGBTQI+ U.S. citizens. https://t.co/tfNnTUQmsp

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 30, 2021

The proposal was released on the last day of Pride month, which has been recognized by the Biden administration. Blinken earlier this month authorized U.S. embassies to fly the “Progress Flag” and the president prioritized a number of initiatives championing the LGBTQ community.

Notably, Biden rescinded former President Donald Trump’s 2018 ban on transgender people serving in the military.
– – –
Jennie Taer is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.

[Screenshot/YouTube/CBS Los Angeles]

Tensions boiled over Saturday outside of a Los Angeles spa during a protest in response to the alleged exposure of a transgender woman’s penis in an all-woman’s wet spa section.

A woman complained to Wi Spa over the alleged exposure of a transgender woman’s genitals in front of women and children in a viral Instagram video which sparked protests in support of her, Fox News reported. The arrival of a group of individuals in black clothing, who some claimed to be part of Antifa, sparked a series of hostile encounters, footage showed.

One video appears to show individuals wearing masks and black hoodies attacking a female protester and a group of Christian street preachers, hitting one of them in the face with a skateboard. One person reported that they were stabbed, according to Fox News. . . .

Violence has repeatedly erupted at dueling protests held in Los Angeles, California at the location of Wi Spa, where the company defended a transgender woman allegedly flashing a biologically male penis at women and young girls. Leftists and Antifa have repeatedly accused those who think it is morally wrong to flash one’s genitals of being transphobic, and today, have repeatedly attacked those protesting peacefully.

Newsmax TV correspondent James Klug recorded several videos of fights breaking out, generally provoked by Antifa members and other leftist protesters. Klug noted that there was a large police presence at the dueling protests, but very few arrests were made. “More fights breaking out in the middle of the street. I have seen 1 arrest made so far,” wrote Klug in one tweet. Klug was later attacked by Antifa members, resulting in his phone malfunctioning. Klug says he was also attacked as he entered the area.

LA: More fights breaking out in the middle of the street. I have seen 1 arrest made so far. pic.twitter.com/QHDQhiSLzX

— James Klüg (@realJamesKlug) July 3, 2021

Earlier today: Countless fights broke out down the street from Wi Spa (where the demonstration was held)

A bottle thrown hit my phone at the end of this video and cut it short. pic.twitter.com/KBXLZEGKJj

— James Klüg (@realJamesKlug) July 3, 2021

The only footage I have of me getting assaulted earlier today in Las Angeles

I had just arrived at this point and hadn’t even made it to the location of the demonstration. pic.twitter.com/1i3ZHb2nUN

— James Klüg (@realJamesKlug) July 3, 2021

In one video, individuals flying an Antifa banner “punch a man, then chase & assault a videographer at the Wi Spa protest in Los Angeles,” wrote Antifa expert Andy Ngo on Twitter. Another video shows that “Antifa started a fire on the street at their riot in Los Angeles to counter a group of people who protested the Wi Spa,” wrote Ngo, “a business where a person allegedly exposed their genitals to women & girls. Antifa called the protesters transphobes as they beat them.”

Breaking: A mob of antifa (look at their flag if it’s not obvious enough) punch a man, then chase & assault a videographer at the Wi Spa protest in Los Angeles. cc @pressfreedom, @uspresstracker, @spj_tweets pic.twitter.com/GiIlDzuiKI

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 3, 2021

Antifa started a fire on the street at their riot in Los Angeles to counter a group of people who protested the Wi Spa, a business where a person allegedly exposed their genitals to women & girls. Antifa called the protesters transphobes as they beat them. pic.twitter.com/dh2EWEPaHS

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 3, 2021

More videos appear to show random acts of violence, with Antifa members repeatedly accusing others of transphobia and threatening them with physical violence for opposing biological men showing their penis to women and young girls. At one point, a street preacher was attacked.

Antifa assault street preachers who tried to attend the Wi Spa protest in Los Angeles. Several people have been assaulted today but police don’t appear to be responding at all. pic.twitter.com/p5mblPgXYG

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 3, 2021

Another fight. Will update as I can. Police presence large. pic.twitter.com/YaG9AMlEeo

— Sean Carmitchel (@ACatWithNews) July 3, 2021

President Joe Biden’s top deputies joined with transgender activists on Wednesday to encourage children to claim they are suffering from anti-transgender discrimination.

“If you or someone you know is facing discrimination because you are transgender, we want to know,” said Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, said in the June 30 YouTube broadcast.

“You can file a complaint now … We see you, we hear you, and we will keep fighting for your inclusion, your dignity, and your equal rights under law,” said Clarke, who also suggested that the Supreme Court will back the children’s claim.

“We are on your side, we’ve got your back,” said Miguel Cardona, the Secretary of Education. He continued:

We stand with you, we see you, we hear you. We respect you. You matter. You are brave. And you are already strong, standing in the light that emanates and you can be unapologetically and authentically you. Continue to be courageous by speaking up and speaking up when you believe that you have experienced discrimination.

“You are so brave,” said Rachel Levine, a transgender man who is the Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. “I want you to know your president has your backs …  and I will do everything that I can to support and advocate for our community,” Levine added. . . .

A 13-year-old transgender girl has sued Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over a new law that bars her from competing in high school sports.

The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, argues that the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” is discriminatory and will deprive the Broward County teen of opportunities.

The bill, signed by DeSantis on June 1, requires anyone participating in girls athletics in public schools to have an original birth certificate that states they are female.

The teen, Daisy, has played on girls soccer teams since she was 7, but will no longer be able to when the law takes effect Thursday. She also planned to try out for a high school volleyball team.

Taking part in school sports has taught her leadership skills and given her a social network and support system, according to the suit, filed on her behalf by the Human Rights Campaign.

“Depriving her of these opportunities will have a long-term impact on her future. It also will create a sense of shame and diminish her positive sense of self, which can have lifelong consequences,” the filing states. . . .

A bill awaiting the Illinois governor’s signature would require schools to provide free menstruation products in both girls’ and boys’ bathrooms for grades 4 through 12.

Currently, Illinois requires tampons to be provided to students who need them, but the supplies are kept in the nurse’s office.

State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, a co-sponsor of the proposal, said products such as tampons and sanitary napkins are needed in both girls’ and boys’ bathrooms in order to address the health needs of transgender students.

“If you are biologically a female, but identifying as a male, you’re going to menstruate and you’re going to need these products,” Willis said during floor debate. . . .