Eugene School District
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Updated June 5, 2023
According to ABC 7, “The Eugene School District 4J (4J) is holding a “Pride Fest” at one of its high schools [North Eugene High School] Friday, marking the beginning of Pride Month.”
A flyer on the Eugene School District 4J Instagram account promoting the Pride Fest details certain activities that will take place at the event (see image below) including a “Clothing Swap,” “Gay Men’s Chorus,” “Drag Performances,”and “Student Performances,” among other activities. The flyer has no descriptions for what each activity entails.
Some guests at the event include organizations like “Transponder,” whose mission is:
“TransPonder is a transgender founded and led nonprofit based in Eugene, Oregon providing support, resources, and education for the transgender and gender diverse community and our allies.”
Several of the other groups on the flyer have a mission similar to Transponder. Among the names on the list of guests are Planned Parenthood, the non-profit organization that provides abortion and reproductive healthcare services to women.
The flyer was posted on the district’s Instagram page, but has since been taken down, along with the account.
According to KEZI 9, “4J Director of Communications Jenna McCulley was one of the 4J officials behind the removal of the pride fest flyer. The flyer stated the activities taking place including a drag show, which lead to event coordinators getting negative and hateful comments towards themselves and the district. McCulley said those comments were what lead [sic] to the post’s removal.”
McCulley explained her reasoning for the removal of the flyer:
“As a government entity we do not moderate a public forum in which people have the opportunity to express their opinions. The organizers, the students and the staff supporting the students reached out to let us know that the students were no longer feeling safe based on some of the comments that were being posted on there.”
Published – October 7, 2021
The Eugene School District is located in Eugene, Oregon. The district has a total of 38 schools in operation with an enrollment of over 17,300 students.
ESD is following the state of Oregon’s mandates and is forcing every student, staff member, and visitor to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. The mandate means you must wear a mask not only inside all school buildings, but outside as well.
ESD has an Equity Committee that “strives to advise the district and act as community catalyst in improving student success among students from racial and ethnic minority groups and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, GLBTQ students, students who have disabilities and students who speak languages other than English.”
