Prairie State Wire

Awake Illinois announced its continued opposition to drag events involving minors and said that Representative Sean Casten has not apologized for labeling its supporters as bigots and accusing them of making threats. The announcement was made on the social media platform X.

According to the DuPage Policy Journal, Awake Illinois, a non-profit parent-led advocacy group, responded to the LaSalle Public Library’s June 25 Drag Queen Storytime announcement by highlighting Casten's previous characterization of parents who opposed drag shows for minors as "bigots." The group emphasized that Casten has yet to apologize and reiterated their ongoing concerns about drag events involving children.

In October 2022, Awake Illinois actively campaigned against a Drag Queen Bingo program at the Downers Grove Public Library, arguing that it constituted "sexual entertainment" for minors. They held public comments at a school board meeting and published posts stating that drag performances were harmful and obscene in taxpayer-funded venues.

Casten issued a press release when the Downers Grove library event was canceled, stating that Awake Illinois and its ally Keith Pekau "created an unsafe environment" that led to threats against the library. He accused them of promoting "hatred, homophobia and bigotry."

Awake Illinois is a nonprofit social welfare advocacy organization founded in May 2021 by parents in Naperville, Illinois. It now has over 30 county-based chapters statewide and focuses on parental rights, education policy, and civic engagement, particularly opposing drag events for minors and LGBTQ-inclusive curricula.