[Press Release] “Political Activist’s Insidious Exploitation of Students in Newberg OR Schools”
Political Activist’s Insidious Exploitation of Students in Newberg OR Schools
NEWBERG, OR— Insidious activities by Activists in Newberg schools have parents outraged, and the pro-parents group Parents Rights’ In Education is sounding the alarm. PRIE’s Executive Director was alerted to a disturbing video promoted by local political activists.
The video, captured during a so-called “drag show,” reveals adults giving cash to a student while the student performed in lingerie. The student currently attends Newberg High School.
This event was hosted by Newberg Activist #1, who runs a children’s dance studio as an after-school program paid for by taxpayer money.
Newberg Activist #1, and City of Newberg Councilor, founded the Community Wellness Collective, a non-profit health clinic inside Newberg High School. Newberg Activist #1 is CEO of the center. Although she is not a certified counselor, teacher, or school staffer, she has unlimited access to students of all ages, including the most vulnerable students.
Newberg Activist #1 is seen in the beginning of the video introducing the event as a political “fundraiser to Recall Brian Shannon,” a Newberg School Board Director.
Parents’ Rights In Education Executive Director Suzanne Gallagher says this situation sums up the parental rights debate:
“Every parent in Newberg has to wonder if their child has inappropriately interacted with Newberg Activist #1. She is lurking in the shadows, has access to children, and opens up a dance studio. Then brings in minors, and has a student perform in lingerie to raise money for her political pals?
“No one can justify Newberg Activist #1’s actions by claiming this is about ‘acceptance and inclusion’ of LGBTQ students. Rather, it’s exploitation. When adults conflate exploring gender identity and sexual orientation, with blatant exploitation of students, this is dangerous, and close to grooming. Our sons and daughters are not for sale.
“This country was once horrified when Mary Kay Latourneau had a sexual relationship with a student and violated that boundary. Today this kind of sexualization is an alarming trend, documented across endless headlines.
“Boundaries between adults and students must be kept very clear, especially with regard to vulnerable student populations such as LGBTQ+ youth, who have higher odds of being sex-trafficked, or of committing suicide.
“Opponents to parents’ rights believe children are better off being raised by the state. Thirty years ago the issue of parental rights was proposed as a constitutional amendment in Colorado. It failed over concerns the State might be limited in protecting children from abuse or endangerment at the hands of parents. Today we see the catastrophic consequences of this flawed argument.
“The issue of parental rights is coming up again because parents have lost faith in the judgment of those running public schools.
“Newberg Activist #1 has proven that she cannot be trusted to act in the best interest of Newberg students. We call upon the Newberg School District to remove her from counseling students, and revoke her contract for after-school programs.”
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