Chicago City Wire

Jones Lang LaSalle, the real estate company known popularly as JLL, signed a deal to support transgender-positive GenderCool just weeks before one of its largest backers pulled out amid controversy. JLL is based in Chicago. 

“We are so excited to announce our new partnership with JLL, a global leader in commercial real estate services & investment management. Partners like JLL are paving the way for workplace preparedness for the Next Gen workforce,” GenderCool said in a Facebook post. “Did you know - JLL earned a 100% score in 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI)? JLL is truly a leader in inclusiveness practices that include spousal / domestic partner health benefits, adoption benefits, transgender-inclusive health benefits, written gender-transition guidelines and a targeted recruiting efforts to include the LGBTQ community in their workforce to mention a few! Thank you for being GenderCool, JLL!”

After receiving inquiries regarding the arrangement, State Farm announced it was ending its involvement with the group.  State Farm stated that it was reversing its position due to books GenderCool wants to distribute to schools. 

“We support organizations that provide resources for parents to have conversations about gender and identity with their children at home. We do not support required curriculum in schools on this topic,” it said in a news release. “As a result, we have made the decision we will no longer be affiliated with the organization. We will continue to explore how we can support our associates, as well as organizations that align with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, including the LGBTQ+ community.”

The campaign, according to National Review, was to give hundreds of copies of three LGBTQ-positive books – A Kids Book About Being Transgender, A Kids Book About Being Inclusive, and A Kids Book About Being Non-Binary – to area schools for children aged 5 and up.

McLean County Times reported that gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) commented on the issue. “GenderCool is not mainstream," he said. "It is a radical organization leading the charge to let boys play girls youth and high school sports. For the moment decency and common sense have been restored at State Farm as the company has backed away from partnering with this extreme organization. Moving forward, I encourage State Farm and the other Illinois companies financing this insanity to quit the ‘woke’ cult for their employees’ sake and adhere to the values have served these companies well for many years.”