Oregon is at risk of forfeiting the 30%+ federal money that helps subsidize Oregon schools. On February 5, Trump signed an executive order, "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," to bar trans women from female sports and locker rooms in federally funded institutions and followed-up by withholding funding for noncompliance. The order may only last as long as Republicans hold the white house, and the bill in congress is being blocked by Democrats. Still, can Oregon’s education survive without federal funding for four plus years?

Oregon Republican legislators want more stability for education and have introduced HB 3740 and SB 618 telling school districts and certain private schools to designate sports by biological gender. The bill forbids males from playing in female sports.

The bill in congress also seeks to add new wording to Title IX equality legislation so that "sex shall be recognized based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth." No more mixing the human race with fury animals and providing litter boxes in school bathrooms.

Representation Dwayne Yunker (R-Josephine County) agrees and has sponsored HB 2439, which removes the term "gender identity" from certain laws, including those related to education. Oregon has defined "gender identity" as an individual's gender-related identity, whether or not that identity is different from the individual's assigned sex at birth, including but not limited to a gender identity that is transgender or androgynous (being of two coexisting sexes). This definition was added to all laws referencing sexual orientation in 2021 (House Bill 3041). The bill also clarified that "gender expression" refers to the manner in which a person represents or expresses gender.

It isn’t really about discrimination when the inequity hinders the other party. Trans women with masculine bodies and strength becomes the aggressor victimizing the female gender. In the same way, Oregon leaders have become the aggressors victimizing school boards and students by refusing to consider HB 3740 and HB 2439.

If the Trump Administration investigates Oregon school policies, they will also find HB 2002 is in violation of Trump’s child mutilation executive order. HB 2002 pass by Democrats in 2023, allows children to get abortions without parents knowledge, and allows for “gender reassignment” surgeries.

Now, a detailed legal opinion from the Oregon Legislative Counsel Committee (OCL) has uncovered a critical policy conflict that places Oregon public schools at odds with federal law. Representative Bobby Levy (R-La Grand) lead an investigation that produced a stark divergence between state and federal regulations regarding transgender student participation in athletics.

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Representative Ed Diehl (R-Scio) says, “The opinion reveals that Oregon policy, backed by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), mandates that public high schools allow transgender students to compete on athletic teams aligning with their gender identity. However, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has clarified that Title IX, as currently enforced, prohibits such participation. This discrepancy could expose Oregon schools to federal investigations, sanctions, or even the suspension or termination of funding.”

The Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) said state school districts would look to guidance from OSAA and the Oregon Department of Education. OSAA says they will continue to act under the direction of the Association's members and in compliance with applicable law. The Department continues to say they are researching the options. OSBA has indicated they will file a complaint and believes that will stall the freeze on funding, but will it?

Is the Legislature and Governor willing to lose around $1.6 billion, or $2,011 per pupil and hold 1,246 schools hostage in 197 school districts? Write the Oregon House Committee on Education to give HB 3740 and HB 2439 a hearing.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-03-07 14:15:56

Last Update: 2025-03-07 16:31:03