Illinois Valley Times

State Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is opposing House Bill 2350 as it opens pap smear tests and prostate exams to all insured, regardless of gender.

 “I strongly spoke out against HB2350 which provides all insured to get Pap Smear tests for all (rather than female) and prostate cancer screening for all (rather than male),” Chesney said in a Facebook posting. “Yes, you heard this right. Democrats think that females need a prostate exam.” 

Chesney included a link to his speech on the floor. In that video, he said this: “If you wonder why people do crazy stuff – this is exactly why. Biological males cannot get pap smears. It's not possible it is physically and anatomically impossible. It's not even - it's not even following science.” 

He criticized the fact that Democrats don’t want to differentiate between the sexes in legislation.

“You know, people don't understand why we're kind of, you know, doing goofball things,” Chesney said. “This is why right biological women cannot go get a prostate exam it's not possible, right? So we can do all the gender feel-good garbage but this is why our kids are confused. There are two genders. There are two genders possible. There's not three, there's not four. There's two. The crazy stuff like this is why people are confused and the kids don't know what the hell's going on because they're confused because of legislation like this; drop the pronoun crap, there are two genders, period.” 

House Bill 2350 is to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. The document explains that “In provisions concerning pap tests and prostate cancer screenings, provides that required coverage includes an annual cervical smear or pap smear test for all (rather than female) insureds. Provides that required coverage includes an annual prostate cancer screening for insureds (rather than male insureds) upon the recommendation of a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches for specified individuals. Provides that required coverage includes an annual prostate cancer screening for insureds who are age 40 and over with a genetic predisposition to prostate cancer.” 

The bill was filed with the Clerk of the House by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy on Feb. 14. It moved to the Senate on March 22, and the bill passed both houses on May 4.  

Chesney has represented the 89th District since December 2018. He has served as an elected member of the Freeport City Council and has been a past board member of the Regional Access  Mobilization Project (RAMP)—an organization that provides support services and advocacy for people with disabilities. He is also a former mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.