WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday opened civil rights investigations into 36 Illinois public school districts, including DeKalb Community Unit School District 428, Meridian Community Unit School District 223, Oregon Community Unit School District 220, and Freeport School District 145, to determine whether they are teaching sexual orientation and gender identity content, known as SOGI, in pre K through 12 classrooms. SOGI stands for sexual orientation and gender identity. Federal officials said the investigations will review whether parents are notified of their right to opt their children out of that instruction. Investigators will also examine policies involving bathrooms, locker rooms, and girls sports teams based on biological sex. The department said it will review whether the districts are following Title IX and court rulings on parental rights.
While the Biden and Obama administrations interpreted Title IX to protect gay and transgender students, the Trump administration has penalized schools that moved to accommodate students based on their gender identity.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the effort is focused on parental awareness. The Civil Rights Division said no conclusions have been reached.