Illinois Governor Hopes To Strengthen State’s Transgender Protections After Trump Win

Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker over the weekend vowed to have the back of transgender people as he is reportedly part of a coalition trying to bolster protections after Donald Trump was re-elected to the presidency earlier this month. 

“This Transgender Awareness Week, I want you to know that I see you and have your back as governor,” Pritzker posted on X on Saturday. “Illinois has enshrined protections for gender-affirming care to meet this moment — and because of that, you will have a home here always.”

This Transgender Awareness Week, I want you to know that I see you and have your back as governor.

Illinois has enshrined protections for gender-affirming care to meet this moment — and because of that, you will have a home here always.

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) November 16, 2024

Protections for gender-affirming care were enshrined in Illinois law last year. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Governor Pritzker is working with other Illinois Democrats “evaluating what further protections we can enact in the coming months,” a spokesperson for Gov. Pritzker said.

He has helped make Illinois one of the most far-Left states in terms of transgender policies, including those aimed at minors. He is responsible for the state adding non-discrimination protections for “transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students” in December 2021.

“Ensuring every Illinois student has access to a safe, validating learning environment where they can be their true self is a top priority for my administration,” Pritzker said at the time.

The governor also signed into law a public school sex education bill that promotes gender identity ideology and other related material in grades K-12. He’s also a staunch supporter of biological males being permitted to compete against females in youth sports if they identify as transgender. 

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Pritzker’s cousin, Jennifer, was born a male but now identifies as a woman. Jennifer, formerly known as James Pritzker, was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army National Guard and has three children. The transgender rights activist heads up the Tawani Foundation, which “funds studies and efforts aimed at leading to a better understanding, and acceptance, of gender and human sexuality diversity.”

The Pritzker family is one of America’s wealthiest families, with an estimated $41.6 billion net worth built mainly through the Hyatt hotel chain.

The Illinois Democrat’s stance stands in contrast to what Trump has said about the transgender issue. In 2023, the president-elect said, “I will then ask Congress to permanently stop federal taxpayer dollars from being used to promote or pay for these procedures and pass a law prohibiting child sexual mutilation in all 50 states.”