Chicago City Wire

Local community members are bringing attention to HB 4664 which would open more access for abortionists and allow gender reassignment treatment for minors without parental input or consent. 

Concerned citizens, groups, and lawmakers are opposing the bill.

"The Church of Satan of Illinois is sponsoring HB-4664 to expand abortion with chemicals, knives and other instruments of death-WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF A DOCTOR!" Wayne Smith said on Facebook. "Take a look at the bill and see if you want yourself, your wife, your child or your dog sub[j]ected to this danger! If the radical progressives cared for a 'woman's health' do you think they would want competent medical supervision?" 

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) is among the many who are speaking out against the bill. “Under this bill, minors could receive a surgical abortion from a non-doctor, paid for by the taxpayer, in a clinic that is not held to the same standards as other medical facilities, and their parents never have to know,” Caulkins said on Facebook. He added the bill strips parents of their right to lead their children’s healthcare decisions. “The bill sets standards for gender-affirming care that will mean doctors can provide hormonal therapy or surgical gender reassignment surgery without requiring parental involvement and with no age limit,” Caulkins added. “This bill will require Illinois insurance plans to cover gender-affirming medication to be covered without copay or deductible to any person without age restrictions and no requirement for parental notification.”

Abortion clinics in Illinois have expanded their capacity in preparation for an increase in demand for abortions. Along the state's border with states controlled by Republicans, Planned Parenthood has opened a number of additional abortion clinics. Abortion advocates anticipate a five-fold increase in the number of abortions, Prairie State Wire reported.

The bill also allows for “sanctuary” status for minors seeking gender reassignment. “Illinois too is plagued with Democrats who are as hell-bent on destroying the bodies, minds, and hearts of children as they are in destroying the nuclear family, publicly subsidized schools, and urban communities,” The Illinois Family Institute wrote. “While Kelly Cassidy has a long history of using the government to normalize disordered eroticism, somehow another homosexual lawmaker got the jump on her with regard to a 'trans'-sanctuary bill for Illinois. That lawmaker is State Senator Michael Simmons (D-Chicago) who was appointed to the office in February 2021 when another disastrous leftist lawmaker—Heather Steans—retired.” The institute underscored that “On November 29,2022 Simmons—who has no children—introduced SB 4245, the ‘Gender-Affirming Health Care Protection Act,’ which prohibits the ‘State,’ ‘law enforcement,’ and the ‘Governor’ from complying with statutes and subpoenas issued by other states regarding experimental and ghoulish medical ‘interventions’ with which leftists like to maim minors’ bodies.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is directly involved with funding gender reassignment at Lurie Hospital in Chicago. The Pritzker Foundation gave Lurie’s Childen’s Hospital $6.45 million in January. That was on top of a previous $15 million in 2019.