Oregon Father’s Alarm Over School Survey on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

An Oregon father has expressed deep concern after learning that his 11-year-old son was set to participate in a state-issued survey exploring sexual orientation and gender identity. This initiative has prompted debates around parental consent and children’s privacy.

Chuck Gonzales, the father in question, revealed his outrage during an interview with Fox News Digital. His son, Maxwell, attends Minter Bridge Elementary School in Hillsboro, located near Portland, Oregon.

Gonzales stated, “I might’ve heard about this survey online. It targets students in grades six, eighth, and eleventh, and is issued by the Oregon Health Authority. The survey poses various complex questions about gender and sexual identity that sixth graders may not fully understand.” He added that upon discovering the details online, he accessed the survey and confirmed its contents.

The Content of the Survey

The 2024 Student Health Survey includes inquiries such as “What is your gender identity?” It presents multiple choices: “girl or woman, boy or man, demigirl/demiboy, nonbinary, genderfluid, genderqueer or questioning, and agender/no gender.”

According to gender identity definitions, a demigirl or demiboy refers to individuals who partially identify with a specific gender. This terminology emphasizes that gender can be perceived as fluid rather than fixed.

The survey further assesses whether students identify as transgender, allowing responses like “Yes,” “No,” “I am not sure,” “I don’t know what this question is asking,” and “I prefer not to answer.”

“It’s infuriating that the government, along with progressive ideologies from Salem, believes it’s appropriate to delve into the private matters of children,” Gonzales expressed. He described how his son found the survey confusing and troubling.

Parental Concerns Grow

Another segment of the survey asks students to indicate their sexual orientation, permitting multiple selections. Response options include “straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual or aromantic, queer, questioning, ‘Something else fits better, please tell us more,’ ‘I am not sure of my sexual orientation,’ ‘I don’t know what this question is asking,’ and ‘I prefer not to answer.'”

According to Gonzales, many parents he spoke with were also unaware of the survey’s existence. He mentioned, “Many in the community thought this whole situation was fabricated or exaggerated. However, once I shared the survey link, parents reached out to request it, wanting to know how to opt-out for their children.”

Parental Rights at Stake

Gonzales passionately defended parental rights and criticized the survey’s intentions. He stated, “This survey undermines the values we uphold as Christians. It is not the state’s role to impose their ideologies on our children. I find this infuriating, not only as a Christian and Catholic but as a concerned parent.”

He encouraged other parents to engage actively rather than remain silent. Gonzales urged fellow parents to attend city council and school district meetings, emphasizing the importance of calm yet assertive communication. “We will only succeed if we maintain control over our thoughts, words, and emotions,” he noted.

Sharing the Message

Gonzales has shared a video on social media that features his son reading excerpts from the survey, imploring parents to take action. “Parents, it’s time to wake up! The Oregon state government is imposing invasive questionnaires on our sixth graders, asking them to disclose their sexual orientation,” he remarked in a recent social media post.

Expressing his dismay further, he added, “What on Earth is happening? I pray for my children’s well-being day and night. I strive to teach them right from wrong. But now, bureaucrats in Salem think they have authority over my family without any consultation? This is not true education; it feels manipulative and probing at an age when children are simply focused on playing and growing up.”

Gonzales concluded, “It is misguided and offensive. We’re not going to allow our children to be treated as subjects in some progressive agenda. They are gifts entrusted to us, not the state. This undermines our rights, religious beliefs, and, above all, their innocence. Parents must stand together, contacting representatives, showing up at schools, and asserting our rights to protect our children from this overreach.”

School District’s Response

In response to the widespread concern, Beth Graser, communications officer for the Hillsboro School District, stated, “Every parent or guardian received advance notice about this survey through our ParentSquare communication system and via hard copies sent home with students. A signed opt-out form was submitted for this student, and they did not participate in the survey.”

This incident has opened a broader dialogue regarding the role of education, parental rights, and the sensitivity surrounding children’s understanding of complex issues. As communities engage in this conversation, parents are reminded to stay informed and proactive in their children’s education.

Fox News’ Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi contributed to this report.