Prairie State Wire

Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) says the Biden Administration's linking of school lunch program eligibility to nondiscrimination efforts will lead to transgender males using girls bathrooms.

He urged other gubernatorial candidates to reject this policy and stand up for girls.

"The Biden Administration is bullying schools into conformity to its woke agenda," Bailey said. "Requiring schools to allow biological males in girls’ bathrooms as a condition of receiving federal school lunch money is as underhanded and conniving as it gets. Allowing biological males into girls’ bathrooms is a formula for disaster. In the schools that have voluntarily implemented policies to allow males access to girls’ bathrooms, we have already seen sexual assaults take place. Taking this policy nationwide is going to lead to more girls getting sexually assaulted. I call on my opponents in the Illinois gubernatorial race to join me in protecting our girls by opposing Biden’s terrible policies."

“USDA is committed to administering all its programs with equity and fairness, and serving those in need with the highest dignity," said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. "A key step in advancing these principles is rooting out discrimination in any form – including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.” 

The policy has created controversy.

"[I]f a school feels like they cannot participate because it’s in conflict with their mission or values, if a religious exemption is not granted, you’re taking away a program that’s feeding low-income kids,” John Elcesser, executive director of the Indiana Non-Public Education Association, told the Federalist.

NPR reported earlier this year that during the pandemic, the federal lunch program was a lifeline for many children. As the COVID numbers declined, the Biden Administration didn't renew waivers for the program earlier this year. 

“This puts children at risk of missing more than 95 million meals this summer alone,” Lisa Davis, Senior Vice President of Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry, told NPR.

Bailey, a third-generation farmer, lives on the Bailey Family Farm near Louisville with his wife. He is a member of several groups including the Illinois Wheat Association, National and State Corn Growers Association, National and State Soybean Association, and the Fellowship of Christian Farmers. 

The Bailey Family Farm is owned and operated by the senator and his sons where they grow corn, wheat, and soybeans.