Oregon Middle School’s Surprise ‘Drag Day’ Tells Children to Dress as ‘Queer Hero’

An Oregon middle school is under scrutiny after encouraging students to dress]n drag and emulate “queer heroes” as part of a Pride Week event—without notifying parents in advance, as reported by Fox News.

Arts & Technology Academy, a public middle school in the Eugene School District 4J, hosted “Pride Spirit Week” this week with a schedule of themed days designed to promote LGBTQ+ awareness. A memo outlining the week’s events was obtained by Fox News Digital.

The daily themes included “Rainbow-Out” on Monday, where students were told to wear as many colors as possible, and “Remembrance Day” on Tuesday, asking students to dress in black “in remembrance of lost members of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

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On Wednesday, the school held “Drag Day,” instructing students to “dress like a drag queen/king/monarch or dress up as a different gender.”

Thursday’s event was “Queer Hero Day,” where students were encouraged to dress like a prominent LGBTQ+ figure such as Freddie Mercury or singer Chappell Roan. The week concluded with “Pride Flag Friday,” asking students to dress up as the pride flag of their choice.

One parent, who spoke with Fox News Digital, expressed concern after learning of the week’s events only after they had already begun. The school principal sent an email to families on Monday afternoon, approximately 15 minutes after students were dismissed for the day.

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The message also stated that students would be learning about “the history of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement” in conjunction with the themed week.

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Oregon state law requires that parents be notified in advance of any instructional material related to human sexuality.

When contacted, a spokesperson for the Eugene School District 4J acknowledged that families were notified late and said most of the activities were not considered formal instruction under the law. However, the district conceded that parents should have been informed earlier.

The district said it would work more closely with schools to ensure proper notice is given in the future. “It is our expectation that schools communicate with families about special events weeks in advance,” the spokesperson stated.

According to the district, the events aligned with Oregon’s LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan, which mandates the inclusion of historical content and contributions from LGBTQ+ communities.

The Eugene 4J school board has openly opposed efforts by President Donald Trump to eliminate gender ideology and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies from public schools.

Following a January executive order by Trump recognizing only two sexes, the district passed a resolution supporting “gender identity, expression and equity” for transgender and gender-expansive individuals.

The board’s resolution explicitly rejected efforts to “diminish, politicize or marginalize these identities.” In February, the district also became the first public K-12 district to join a federal lawsuit challenging the Department of Education’s restrictions on the use of racial preferences in school operations.

Board Chair Jenny Jonak defended the district’s stance, stating, “Our equity programs are part of our board and district goals to make sure our students have fair access to achievement and that our schools are effective in reaching all students, including our most vulnerable.”

A federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the Department of Education’s directive in April, allowing the legal challenge to proceed without immediate penalties for school districts.

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