Parents' Rights Now‪!‬ Suzanne Gallagher

Welcome back to the "Parents Rights in Education" podcast, where we unite parents and allies in the mission to protect children's educational rights. Today, we delve into a pivotal conversation with Austin Daniel, a House District 46 candidate from Oregon. Austin, a former far-leftist turned moderate, shares his transformation and insights on identity politics. As a gay person of color, his experiences in Portland's progressive milieu shaped his nuanced views on modern activism and educational approaches. Join us as we explore the real impacts of critical race theory in schools and the potential for more inclusive dialogues.
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In 2015, the Adolescent Sexuality Conference in Seaside, Oregon was canceled due to public outcry over its content, including discussions on porn and drug use during sex. Recently, similar figures re-emerged at the Joining Our Youth (JOY) Conference held at Oregon State University. This event, focusing on school-based health clinics, aimed to empower youth to access a range of health services, including mental health and gender-affirming care.
The JOY Conference, supported by the Oregon School-Based Health Alliance and the Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families, brought together over 200 attendees, including youth leaders, educators, and health practitioners. The conference provided interactive activities and workshops aimed at promoting health services through youth-adult partnerships and included discussions on culturally responsive clinical approaches and policy sustainability.
However, the event has been met with criticism. One example involves Shantel Waddell, who discussed extending day programs for community schools. This follows a recent lawsuit where a program she was involved with was accused of mishandling a sexual assault case involving minors. Another presenter, Nicole Mayer, focused on enhancing youth/adult partnerships, emphasizing her diverse identity and commitment to various social issues, which some may see as a push towards activism rather than education.
Furthermore, Haley Hedrick from the Doernbecher Gender Clinic discussed supporting gender diverse youth, emphasizing resilience amidst political and cultural challenges. She offered insights into both medical and non-medical pathways for gender affirmation, emphasizing youth-centered decision-making models.
Critics of the JOY Conference argue that its strong focus on youth empowerment and engagement could veer into activism, potentially sidelining parental involvement in the developmental and educational processes of their children. The conference literature notably lacked any mention of parental roles, raising concerns about the exclusion of parents from discussions about their children’s health and education.
This event reflects ongoing tensions between educational initiatives aimed at inclusivity and community responses that demand more traditional approaches to education and parental involvement.
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In Portland, parents filed a lawsuit against the Portland Association of Teachers for over $100 million, citing a November 2023 strike that led to nearly a month of school closures for 44,000 students. The suit claims the strike was illegal under Oregon law, which limits strikes to mandatory bargaining subjects. Parents allege severe disruptions to their children's education and well-being, seeking compensation and legal measures to prevent future occurrences. The lawsuit was initiated by attorneys Patrick Hughes and Daniel Suhr, known for their significant legal battles in Supreme Court cases.
The complaint can be viewed here.
For GLSEN's 2024 Day of Silence, the theme is "Rise Up, Take Action," encouraging students to actively fight censorship and discrimination rather than remaining silent. Resources include participating in the Rainbow Writes Award, joining the GLSEN Youth Membership, taking the National Student Council Survey, hosting events, and leveraging ACLU resources against LGBTQ+ discrimination in schools. Critics argue this promotes activism over education. Parents are urged to review school materials for activist content.
In Sherwood, Oregon, transgender high school athlete Aayden Gallagher sparked controversy by winning a girls' track event, outrunning biologically female competitors. Critics, including former NCAA champion Riley Gaines, accused adults involved of promoting unfair competition. The incident raises questions about the Oregon School Activities Association's policies on trans athletes, which aim to balance gender identity respect with fair competition. Debate intensifies over whether biological males should compete in female sports.
Contact Portland Public School’s Title IX Program Manager and explain your concern with the policy:
Liane O’Banion
 lobanion@pps.net
503-568-2646
In Osseo, Minnesota, hundreds of students opted out of a school lesson on LGBTQIA+ history and culture, following the school board's progressive "LGBTQIA+ History and Culture Resolution." The community has shown significant pushback against the resolution, which includes recognizing Pride Month and supporting gender-affirming practices. Critics, including the group 279 Parents United, argue the curriculum represents political indoctrination, prompting widespread student opt-outs and parental protests.
Affiliate Shoutout: 
Name: Cami Strasser
 Affiliate City:  Grangeville, Idaho
Bio: 
Cami became an affiliate for Parents’ Rights In Education because she wants K-12 schools to get back to teaching the basics: reading, writing, and math. She has been a fierce fighter to protect children in her area from sexually explicit content and she understands that it is not censorship to remove pornographic material from schools. 
Thank you, Cami for protecting students by standing up for parental rights!
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In the U.S., a national push to reform K-12 education through policy and law changes is gaining momentum, driven by organizations, NGOs, and lobbyists. This movement is notably propelled by the SIECUS initiative, originally established in 1964 to promote comprehensive sex education. SIECUS has evolved, promoting sex education as a vehicle for broad cultural shifts towards sexual and reproductive freedoms. Their "Sex Ed for Social Change" campaign aims to influence societal norms and rights related to sexual health by integrating these lessons into school curriculums. Critics argue that this approach promotes a liberal agenda, extending beyond education to include broader social influences. Sex Ed For Social Change Rebrand


The campaign has led to a significant rise in legislative actions with SIECUS at the helm of the Sex Education Policy Action Council (SEPAC), collaborating with various state entities to propagate comprehensive sex education policies. This coordinated effort seeks to increase the adoption of these policies at all levels of government and boost the number of policymakers supportive of comprehensive sex education.


Despite the advocacy for educational and social change, there has been a notable backlash with a marked increase in parental rights bills and restrictive legislation concerning sexual and reproductive health education. This resistance highlights a growing divide over the role of education in shaping societal values and the rights of parents in overseeing their children's education. The battle lines are drawn as both sides mobilize to shape the future cultural landscape through the educational system.


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In January 2023, the New York legislature passed a proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) for the second time, setting a ballot date for November 2024. The amendment seeks to ban discrimination based on various identifiers including sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, among others. Proponents emphasize its potential to enhance abortion access post-Roe v. Wade. Critics, however, argue that the ERA could also advance gender ideology and weaken parental rights by enabling minors to access gender-affirming treatments without parental consent. They express concern that this could include treatments as significant as puberty blockers and genital surgery, facilitated by a broad interpretation of "person" in existing laws which include minors. Critics urge public awareness of these implications before the vote.
The Louisiana House Committee on Education recently advanced House Bill 121, termed the "Given Name Act," which mandates the use of transgender and nonbinary students' birth names and pronouns in public K-12 schools, barring written permission from parents. This bill, passed along a 9-3 party-line vote, also allows school employees to refuse using certain pronouns contrary to their religious or moral beliefs. Further, it includes provisions for parents to request a teacher transfer if there's a disagreement on pronoun use based on teacher's convictions. The bill has been amended and progresses through the House, urging public engagement and monitoring.
In Montana, a lawsuit has been filed by students, educators, and organizations challenging the 2021 law mandating parental notification 48 hours before discussing "human sexuality" in schools. The plaintiffs argue the law is vague, stifling free speech and educational quality, and threatens privacy and due process rights under the state Constitution. They contend the law prevents open dialogue on topics like gender identity and sexual health, limiting educational opportunities and potentially exposing LGBTQ+ students to further discrimination and bullying. Montana's government defends the law as protecting parental rights to oversee their children's exposure to sexually explicit content.
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