US Department of Justice investigating 36 Illinois school districts over sexuality, gender lessons

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into 36 Illinois school districts, including several in the Chicago suburbs.

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The DOJ is investigating whether schools taught lessons on sexual orientation and gender ideology, and if so, if parents were notified of those lessons.

"This Department of Justice is determined to put an end to local school authorities keeping parents in the dark about how sexuality and gender ideology are being pushed in classrooms," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement. "Supreme Court precedent leaves no doubt: parents have the fundamental right and primary authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. This includes exempting their children from ideological instruction that contradicts their values or decisions about their children's health and best interests."

The investigation will also look at whether schools limit access to places like bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex.

"The Trump Administration continues to punish states the President does not like and this is yet another sham investigation carried out by an office with no regard for the rule of law or the well-being of the American people," Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's Office said in a statement. "The Civil Rights Division used to investigate actual discrimination concerns to ensure all individuals are treated equally under the law, but they're now focused on belittling the rights and humanity of LGBTQ+ communities."

This is a developing story.