a day ago
Fury as Oregon school holds 'Drag Day' where kids are told to turn up as their favorite Pride hero
Students at an Oregon middle school were encouraged to dress up as 'drag queens' and their 'queer hero' in celebration of Pride Month.
Children attending the Arts and Technology Academy, in Eugene, were told they could dress up for the four-day celebration.
In a memo obtained Fox News Digital, students were told on Monday to 'wear as many colors as they could' for what was described as 'Rainbow-Out' day.
That was followed up with a reminder to wear all-black in ' remembrance of lost members of the LGBTQIA+ community'.
On Wednesday, students and faculty celebrated 'Drag Day', with pupils told to 'dress like a drag queen/king/monarch or dress up as a different gender '.
Thursday was picked as 'Queer Hero Day', where students were asked to dress as their favorite 'queer hero', the memo said.
The week was rounded off with 'Pride Flag Friday', with students asked to 'dress up as the pride flag of your choice'.
A representative for the Eugene School District 4J told that participation was entirely 'optional and voluntary'.
A parent reached out to Fox saying that the school principal, identified on their site as AJ Hruby, sent out the itinerary on Monday, 15 minutes before school ended.
The notice from Hruby also said that the activities for the week would coincide with learning in classrooms about the 'history of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement'.
Fox reported that the parent was surprised to hear about the activities after the school week had already started.
State law indicates that schools are required to notify parents and guardians ahead of any sort of teachings on human sexuality.
A spokesperson for the district acknowledged the memo and said that most of the lessons and activities were not considered instructions on human sexuality.
They did say that both the school district and the school recognized that communication about the week should have been issued earlier than Monday.
In a statement from the district said they would 'work more closely with schools around notice for thematic and spirit weeks'.
They also said it was their expectation that schools should communicate with families about special event weeks and comply with state law.
The district also said that the activities and lessons aligned with the state Department of Education's LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan.
LGBTQ2SIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/non-binary, Queer/Questioning, Two-Spirit, Intersex and Asexual.
They said: 'We remain deeply committed to fostering inclusive, safe learning spaces and doing so in partnership with families.
'That means ensuring our communication is clear, our curriculum is aligned, and our students feel like they belong.'
The district is one of several taking a stand against President Donald Trump's attempts to stamp out gender ideology, and DEI inside schools.
Since taking office, Trump has signed a slew of executive orders tied to gender identity.
On his first day in office, he signed an executive order announcing the federal government would only recognize only two unchangeable sexes: female and male.
Two days after that, the school district adopted a resolution which affirmed 'gender identity, expression and equity for trans and gender-expansive students and staff'.
Their resolution said they would stand in support of LGBTQ2SIA+ people and rejected 'any attempt to diminish, politicize or marginalize these identities'.
