Illinois Family Institute

Attendees of the 2019 Illinois Family Institute Worldview Conference had the privilege of hearing Dr. Michelle Cretella’s presentation, “Transgender Ideology: Child Abuse and the Erasure of Human Rights.” In this presentation Dr. Cretella addresses the distinction between the scientific, biological reality of sex vs. the manmade, social construct of gender. She also details the wide-ranging, disastrous consequences that will result if conservatives and Christians remain passive in the face of the erroneous transgender ideology that is embraced and promoted in many pediatricians’ offices, our children’s classrooms, and in the media – especially media targeted to children and youth under the age of 18. Dr. Cretella is the executive director of the American College of Pediatricians (a pro-life and pro-family alternative to the radical, left-wing American Academy of Pediatrics), a board-certified general pediatrician specializing in adolescents and sexual health, and a staunch pro-life advocate. Please watch this important message regarding the “trans” ideology steamroller that is obliterating scientific fact and common sense in our nation and the world. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

In this short video, Mr. Kirk Smith of Illinois Christian Home Educators discusses why homeschooling is an excellent option for educating your children. As a former public school teacher who used to speak against homeschooling, Mr. Smith can speak truly about how wonderful homeschooling has ended up being for his family despite the sacrifice it has required. He argues that because the student cannot be greater than the teacher, students who are sent to "Rome" will return as Romans; furthermore, as other speakers in this video series have argued, a few hours at church each week cannot adequately combat the agendas being taught all day every weekday in public schools. Homeschooling, then, is a great option to consider--take it from a skeptical father who has truly seen its fruits! Learn more at iche.org.

In his annual budget address on Wednesday, February 15th, Gov. Pritzker proposed that state officials spend $49.6 billion of tax dollars on a host of big government programs, especially in the areas of education and "human services," including $5 million to train people to kill babies in the womb. Pritzker also proposed spending $250 million to provide free pre-school for children as young as 3-years-old. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2023-02-15/read-gov-pritzkers-state-of-the-state-and-budget-address

Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American and five-time SEC Champion, acknowledges that the fight to keep confused transgender men from participation in women’s sports is more than a political issue — it’s “spiritual warfare.” “What we’re being asked to do is to deny objective truth. It’s to deny the sky is blue, is to say that men and women are the same,” Gaines said. “We’re equal, but we’re not the same … I feel like we’re in this battle of really spiritual warfare. It’s no longer good or bad or right or wrong. This is like moral versus evil.” Gaines has become an outspoken critic of the Joe Biden administration's interpretation of Title IX to ban discrimination based on gender identity instead of solely sex. She has also testified in front of various state legislative committee's to stop this woke agenda to erase biological women and their sports. May God bless and protect this fearless young lady!

The Christian Emergency League hosted a special panel discussion of Chicago area pastors to address the agenda of sexual chaos and confusion in our culture and in our churches. The event took place at the Church of Christian Liberty in Arlington Heights on Friday, June 30, 2023. At Issue: How do we show true love first to God and then to our neighbor? This vital issue of law, love, and neighbor was tackled by 5 Chicago area pastors, including: Jack Zumwalt Brandon Myers Lucas O’Neill Calvin Lindstrom Dr. Dave Wenkel Visit christianemergencyleague.org to learn more.

Riley Gaines is a former collegiate swimmer at the University of Kentucky who is now an advocate for protecting women's safety, privacy, and the integrity of their sports. She gained national attention in 2022 when she tied for fifth place with Lia Thomas, a transgender man who pretends to be a women, in the NCAA swimming championships. Gaines rightly claims that allowing biological men to compete in women's sports is unfair to female athletes. She has also expressed concerns about the safety and privacy of female athletes in locker rooms and other shared spaces.

At the Illinois Family Institute’s 2016 Worldview Conference, theologian Dr. Wayne Grudem discussed the book he co-wrote with economist Dr. Barry Asmus titled The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution, which examines the reasons for poverty and the reasons for prosperity. Dr. Grudem shared that “Wealth and poverty are primarily determined by policies and factors that affect whole nations.” In order to reduce poverty and increase prosperity, gross national product and per capita income must be raised. The question is how to achieve those goals. Dr. Grudem critiqued the commonly recommended solutions for eliminating poverty, including foreign aid, debt forgiveness, discovering natural resources, transferring goods from one person to another, printing money, attributing poverty to outside factors, and purchasing Fair Trade products. Dr. Grudem also looks to the Bible for guidance on how countries can reduce levels of poverty, and how Christians should respond to urgent needs in impoverished countries. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Rebecca, a 17-year old girl, spoke to the Santee City Council in California about her experience in a YMCA locker room. As she was showering, she noticed a naked male in the locker room which terrified her and caused her to hide until he left. When she asked management about their transgender policy, they told her the man in question was allowed to shower wherever he wanted. When asked if she felt “empowered” because of this transgender inclusivity, she responded, “No, not at all… my safety, my privacy was threatened… No, this is absolutely not empowering whatsoever.”

The United States is experiencing it's 30th straight month of record breaking incursion along the southwest border of foreign nationals illegally immigrating into the country. The southern border in Texas has become ground zero in a humanitarian crisis created by the Biden Administration's neglect of immigration law. The situation mess is characterized by a large influx of migrants, mostly from Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti, who are seeking better economic opportunities in the United States. Border Patrol agents are also encountering larger numbers of immigrants from China, Uzbekistan, Syria, and Lebanon.

This "news" segment from WGN News is not only highly biased and extreme pro-LGBT propaganda, but it is emotionally manipulative in its narrative. Moreover, it also outright lies about so-called "don't say gay" bills, which do not exist.

Chloe Cole is a self-described “former trans kid” who de-transitioned after undergoing years of puberty blockers and an irreversible double mastectomy at the age of 15. As an older teen-ager, she is now traveling across the country to share her story and to encourage us to speak out against these procedures on children. She calls it “child abuse” and “medical experimentation.” In September 2022, Chloe testified outside Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in favor of a bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), that would criminalize gender procedures on minors. H.R. 1399 is being supported by over 40 other Republican lawmakers.

In light of the blockbuster film The Sound of Freedom, many Americans are increasingly concerned about our southern border and the child sex trafficking coming into the United States. In this special episode of the Sentinel Report, Alex Newman is joined by Thomas Hampson, the founder of the Truth Alliance Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on developing more effective ways to prevent child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation. We can stop this evil! Do not miss this timely episode of The Sentinel Report!

Eliana Hartian and Eric Rose sang three songs for us: The National Anthem to start the evening, "Be Thou My Vision" for the appeal time, and "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" to close out the night. Find Eric's music at: https://www.ericcrose.com/ and Eliana's music at: https://elianahartian.com/

It is important to be informed regarding the facts and staggering statistics of transgenderism, but it is also important to hear the real-life stories of spouses, parents, daughters, sons, and siblings who have been personally affected by transgenderism in their family. Denise Shick powerfully shared her story at the 2019 Illinois Family Institute Worldview Conference on “Trans” Ideology. When Denise was only nine years old, her father came out to her as transgender. She explains how this revelation deeply impacted her own sexual identity, her mental, physical, and emotional health through the years, as well as her family relationships. Denise’s story is one of confusion and loss, but ultimately it is a story of redemption, healing, and the ability to forgive that comes only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Denise Shick is an author, conference speaker, and the founder and director of Help 4 Families, a Christian ministry dedicated to helping families and their loved ones affected by transgenderism. Please watch this compelling story regarding the “trans” ideology steamroller that is dividing families and fracturing relationships in homes throughout the state and nation. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Extreme left-wing activists seek to shut down debate with anyone who question their biological confusion and/or cultural agenda. Talking down to dissenters and claiming that we’re responsible for violence for simply trying to flesh out the truth is par for the course. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) later pointed out, "The Democrats say what they really think: men can get pregnant and if you disagree, you are “transphobic” and responsible for violence." These apostles of wokeism are blatantly unreasonable.

Former Chicago Bear Quarterback Jim Harbaugh is currently the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. In an interview with ESPN’s Gene Wojciechowski he said “the abortion issue is one that’s so big that it needs to be talked about.” Harbaugh went on to say that he tells his players and staff that he and his wife would raise their baby that is a result of an unplanned pregnancy. At a pro-life fundraising event in mid-July he told the crowd "I believe in having the courage to let the unborn be born. I love life. I believe in having a loving care and respect for life and death. My faith and my science are what drive these beliefs in me." ~Harbaugh

Amy Jacobson and "Rambling" Ray Stephens discuss the report that says hundreds of Chicago Public Schools teachers sexually groomed, assaulted and raped CPS students last school year. Hundreds... https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/638582935-i-m-ready-to-f-right-now-i-m-not-gonna-be-gentle-either-oig-report-details-cps-teachers-sexual-grooming-assaults-of-their-students

Thomas More Society attorneys filed a federal lawsuit against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on July 27, 2023, seeking to stop him from enforcing Illinois Senate Bill 1909, a measure drafted by Raoul’s office that declares the pro-life speech of the state’s life pregnancy help ministries to be a “deceptive business practice.” Thomas More Society is representing NIFLA, a national pregnancy help center network, along with several Illinois pregnancy help centers and pro-life organizations.

This video is the recording of Mark Issa's presentation at an event in held by IFI in conjunction with Act for America, that occurred in July 2018 at Stone Church in Orland Park. Mark talks about the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their effects on him, how his study of Islam later in life disillusioned him from Islam, and finally how online Christian apologetic media convinced him of the Truth of Christianity. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Kenna Rose speaks on the threat of a culture that prizes safety and comfort above all else, the roots of that mindset, and how it results in the eventual and sometimes swift loss of freedom both through government mandates and laws and through personal fear that entraps you. She answers the questions “Why did the Founding Father’s prize freedom over safety,” “Why do people today value safety so highly and what will the eventual cost be,” and, finally, “What does a safety-oriented life do.” Kenna is a young Christian conservative speaker, who spoke at Illinois Family Institute’s 2022 Worldview Conference. Find Kenna Rose on: Instagram - KennaRose_Official Twitter - @RealKennaRose

State Representative Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville) is pushing HB 1286, a woke proposal that would mandate co-ed (mix gender) multiple occupancy bathrooms. Please send a message to your local state representative to ask him/her to vote against this legislation should it come up for a vote on the Illinois House floor sometime this session. Urge them to reject this foolish woke agenda that fails to recognize biological facts. Ask them to protect the privacy, dignity and safety of all Illinois citizens - especially our children. The Capitol switchboard number is (217) 782-2000.

On June 5th, Illinois Family Institute and Self Evident’s, Kenna Rose, made an appearance on The Annie Frey Show over the controversial topic of “book banning.” In this interview, Kenna explains the difference between book banning and simply questioning the age appropriateness of reading material for children. Kenna also delves into the unifying aspect this topic has had in communities, as many groups like Moms for Liberty and Moms for America, are rallying against the use of pornographic literature as school material. Mentioned in the interview: Age Appropriate Doesn’t Mean Banned by Kenna Rose https://illinoisfamily.org/pornography/age-appropriate-doesnt-mean-banned/

Attention parents, grandparents and church leaders! The incidents of violence, racism and godless perversities are growing fast, and your children are at risk, not only physically, but emotionally and mentally. During their April 29, 2022 morning radio program on WIND, Dan and Amy highlight three preposterous school situations that should alarm every parent/grandparent and community leader. It is high time to get the kids out of the government school systems and into Christian education.