Objections raised at Medford school board meeting over non-binary teacher

MEDFORD — Thursday’s Medford school board meeting included several people objecting to a non-binary teacher at Griffin Creek Elementary.

According to the Mail Tribune, some parents in the district complained a first-grade teacher at Griffin Creek identifies as non-binary. Non-binary individuals identify as neither male or female and prefer the pronoun “they” rather than “he” or “she.”

The Medford School District Board Chair Suzanne Messer reminded those in attendance they were not permitted to discuss complaints about staff members in open session and that further comments should be handled by the district’s complaint process.

“The board is aware there is an ongoing discussion of that matter with district administrators, parents and other community members," Messer said.

But several attending the meeting voiced their concerns, nonetheless.

District resident Tanner Fairrington told board members that topics like preferred pronouns and gender identity were not suitable for first graders.

Read more about the meeting at the Mail Tribune.

Title IX prohibits discrimination against students and teachers based on sexual orientation according to federal and state law, and notes that schools have an obligation to protect students and teachers, as well as to ensure that programs and curricula are free of prejudice and bias.

"I hope we see more diversity in our classrooms,” Gina DuQuenne, founder and president of Southern Oregon Pride, told the Mail Tribune. “We need that so, so much. I would really suggest these people who are protesting, they educate themselves and get with the program. We are coming out, we’ve been out and we’re not going away.”