The Arts & Technology Academy in Eugene, Oregon, hosted a 'Drag Day' as part of its Pride Spirit Week, encouraging students to dress as drag queens, kings, or their favorite queer heroes. This event was part of a week-long celebration aimed at honoring the LGBTQ+ community, which included various themed days such as 'Rainbow-Out' and 'Queer Hero Day.' According to a memo obtained by Fox News, the week concluded with 'Pride Flag Friday,' where students dressed up as different pride flags.
However, some parents expressed concerns about the timing of the notification. A parent told Fox News that the school principal notified families about the events only on Monday afternoon, after students had already been dismissed. Oregon state law requires schools to notify parents in advance of any instruction related to human sexuality, which was not done in this case.
A spokesperson for the Eugene School District 4J confirmed the late notification and acknowledged that communication should have been sent earlier. They stated that the activities were optional and not part of formal instruction on human sexuality. The district vowed to improve communication for future events and emphasized that the activities aligned with the Oregon Department of Education's LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan, which aims to educate students about the histories and contributions of marginalized communities.
The school district reiterated its commitment to fostering inclusive and safe learning environments in partnership with families. They plan to ensure better communication about special events in compliance with state law in the future.