An Oregon parent raised concerns this week after learning that his 11-year-old son was set to receive a state-issued survey that asked children about their sexual orientation, gender identity, and whether they identify as transgender.
The survey, created by the Oregon Health Authority, is part of the 2024 Student Health Survey and was intended for students in sixth, eighth, and eleventh grades.
Chuck Gonzales, whose son Maxwell attends Minter Bridge Elementary School in Hillsboro, spoke with Fox News Digital on Tuesday about how he discovered the survey.
“I was made aware of this survey somehow online,” Gonzales said. He added that he “might’ve got it through an email,” but after checking the Oregon Health Authority’s website, he downloaded the PDF and confirmed the content.
“It was a survey that is asking our children grades six, eighth, and eleventh grade issued by the Oregon Health Authority,” he said.
“And the survey, it asks a lot of really confusing things to sixth graders. And one of those is it discusses and asks about their gender and sexual identity. So when I heard about this, I went to the website, downloaded the PDF form, and sure enough, it was just right there.”
The survey included questions such as “What is your gender identity,” with listed options including “girl or woman, boy or man, demigirl/demiboy, nonbinary, genderfluid, genderqueer or questioning, and agender/no gender.”
It also asked students if they are transgender, with answer choices including “Yes,” “No,” “I am not sure,” “I don’t know what this question is asking,” and “I prefer not to answer.”
Another section asked students about their sexual orientation, telling them they could select more than one answer.
Options included “straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual or aromantic, queer, questioning,” as well as “Something else fits better, Please tell us more,” “I am not sure of my sexual orientation,” “I don’t know what this question is asking,” and “I prefer not to answer.”
Gonzales said the content of the survey was not known to many families.
“When I had heard of this survey, none of the parents that I had spoken with or comments online had heard anything about it,” he said.
He added that when he posted the link to the survey, parents reached out privately asking for the link so they could opt their children out.
Gonzales said he believes the survey interferes with parental authority.
“They have no right to step on the values that we have as Christians,” he said.
“They certainly have no right to step into whatever kind of sexual values that a child doesn’t even have. They’re projecting their own ideologies on our children. So I mean, yes, it’s infuriating as a Christian and as a Catholic, but just simply as a parent and standing up for what is good based on what is clearly evil in this case.”
He encouraged parents to be involved at the local level.
“Parents, don’t be afraid to go to your city council meetings, to go to your school district meetings, but also don’t blow your gasket,” he said.
“The way that we are going to win is for us to stay in control of our own thoughts, our own words, and our own emotions.”
Gonzales posted a video to Facebook showing his son reading parts of the survey.
He wrote, “Parents, wake up! The state of Oregon is shoving invasive surveys at our 11-year-old sixth graders – yes, our KIDS – asking they spill about their ‘sexual orientation.’”
He added, “What in God’s name is happening. I’m a dad who prays day and night over my kids’ souls. I teach them right from wrong, but now, bureaucrats in Salem think they get a say? Without one word to me?”
His post continued, “It’s wrong. It’s a violation. And as a Catholic conservative, I’m done playing nice. Our children aren’t lab rats for some progressive experiment. They’re gifts from God, entrusted to us – not the state. This erodes everything: our rights, our faith, their innocence. Fellow parents, rise up! Call your reps. Flood the schools. Sign petitions. Protect the little ones – because if we don’t, who will?”
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Beth Graser, communications officer for the Hillsboro School District, said parents were notified ahead of time.
“Every parent/guardian received advance information about this survey in two ways: through our ParentSquare communication system and via hard copy that was sent home with students. The school received a signed opt-out form for this student and they did not participate in the survey.”
