Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas is now condemning a far-right suburban group whose fundraiser he spoke at this summer after previously downplaying controversy over his appearance before the organization.
Vallas, who is running for Chicago mayor, called it “hateful” for Awake Illinois to refer to Gov. J.B. Pritzker as a “groomer.” The Naperville-based group made the comment in as social media post two days before Vallas spoke on one of the group’s panels in June.
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“Had I been aware of the hateful rhetoric espoused by a prominent member of the group I would have not accepted the invitation,” Vallas said in a statement Monday. “I will be more vigilant about vetting invitations in the future.”
Two days before Vallas’ appearance at the Awake event, the politically conservative group called Pritzker a “groomer” in Twitter and Facebook posts for his support of a 2021 Illinois law that established sexual education standards that some conservative and anti-LGBTQ groups have criticized.
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Vallas’ condemnation of the Awake Illinois comment followed days of outrage over his appearance at the June event, a panel discussion about education issues and fundraiser hosted by the group.
Awake has come under fire in recent weeks for saying a bakery in the northwest suburbs was “coming for your kids” because the business had planned to host a drag show brunch.
The performance at the bakery was ultimately canceled because the business was vandalized with broken windows, feces and hateful messages.
The Tribune had asked Vallas last week about his appearance at a fundraiser for the group and he said the event was centered around “school choice,” which Vallas supports.
“It’s all about silencing and things like that,” Vallas said when asked about those who disapproved of his appearance with Awake Illinois.
UpRising Bakery and Cafe in far northwest suburban Lake in the Hills had planned what its owner said would have been an age-appropriate event without nudity and with costumes, dancing, breakfast food and a celestial theme. But because the performance was open to children, some people called with unfounded accusations that the workers at the bakery were pedophiles.
An Alsip man, Joseph I. Collins, 24, was charged with felony hate crime and criminal damage to property in the vandalism.
Awake Illinois had called the bakery drag show “perverted” in a Tweet and said it shared information about it so people could “respectfully share their opinions/disgust.” But the group — which has advocated for reopening schools during COVID-19 and against what it views as pro-LGBTQ sex education and critical race theory in public school curriculums — denounced the bakery vandalism, saying: “Whoever committed this … needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
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Vallas noted the group’s condemnation of the alleged vandal but added he was “not defending them. I’m just saying I was invited to participate in a school choice panel from a group that advocates for school choice.”
In his later statement, Vallas said he has “supported programs in all the school districts beginning with Chicago to protect LGBTQ children. Hateful speech, especially that can lead to violence, is unacceptable and I have always condemned it in the strongest possible terms.”
In defending his record on LGBTQ issues, Vallas said he provided healthcare benefits for domestic partners in CPS and city contracts in the 1990s and supported gay marriage in 2001.
“I am a lifelong Democrat who has spent my entire adult life fighting hateful rhetorical and hateful groups,” Vallas said.
School choice often refers to the movement supported by charter schools to offer more alternatives to public schools and has been criticized by teachers’ unions who say it will privatize education. In recent years, backers of reopening in-person school amid the pandemic have also described themselves as “school choice” advocates.
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Besides the canceled show at UpRising, events across the country have been similarly targeted by anti-LGBTQ groups.
In attempting to downplay his June appearance with Awake Illinois, Vallas repeated that it was simply a panel discussion with the intention of raising money for “Project H.O.O.D.,” a nonprofit founded by Chicago Pastor Corey Brooks.
“What they’re doing … ‘Oh, Awake Illinois. They’re anti-LGBTQ,’ and they’re trying to play that card,” Vallas said of critics.
Without elaborating further on the attacks against the bakery, he added, “It’s an election campaign. People don’t want to talk about the issues.”
He changed his position and condemned the group outright Monday after continued controversy, including a story by the Chicago Reader about his appearance at Awake.
Political campaigns often work hard to vet organizations and groups to ensure candidates aren’t embarrassed by their appearance at an event. Vallas previously told the Tribune he participated in the event “even before I was a candidate.” In fact, Vallas announced his campaign for mayor at the start of that month, weeks before the Awake Illinois panel.
