Parents of students at Raleigh Hills Elementary School in Beaverton, Oregon are expressing frustration over the establishment of a new “gender and sexualities” club for fourth and fifth graders aged 9 to 11 years old.
Concerns were raised at a January 18 virtual school board meeting where parents asked the necessity and appropriateness of the club, which was started at the beginning of January. Multiple parents noted that they had not been informed about the club’s existence, nor were they invited to provide input.
“These kids are far too young to be learning about this subject at school,” one parent said during the meeting, asserting that parents should be responsible for educating their children on “different lifestyles.”
“You cannot tell me that this club is being run by students. This club is very clearly directed by staff.”
Schade is a former educator who runs a community organization called Build Back Basics in Education. She says she filed a public records request for information related to the club at the school, and found several teachers were involved and had planned its creation in November of 2021.
Following Schade’s comments, another parent wearing a rainbow-flag scarf was invited to speak. Elessia Buddress stated her daughter was in a leadership role within the sexualities club, and called parents opposed or concerned about the club’s existence “homophobic, transphobic, [and] queerphobic.”
Since its inception just two weeks ago, the club has apparently gained over 40 members at the school — almost 8% of its total student body.
