Parents and Leading Advocates in Oregon Denounce Portland City Council Candidate: “Rene Gonzalez Traded Our Children’s Futures for His Own Agenda.”

(Portland, Ore.) – Today, parents and leading advocates fighting to protect every child in Oregon, especially their own denounced Portland City Council candidate Rene Gonzalez in a press conference held at Portland City Hall..

Parents called attention to Rene Gonzalez’s acknowledgement last week that he sacrificed transgender and LGBQ+ kids, Black and Indigenous kids, and other kids of color to gain support for his ED300 agenda. ED300 was founded by Rene Gonzalez and the organization created a PAC to endorse school board members in 2021.

Research conducted by two Portland Public School parents showed Gonzalez and his group pushed to elect school board members also supported by groups who are anti-LGBTQ, against teaching an accurate history of race in classrooms and comprehensive sex education. 

Exclusionary mindset

Seventeen of the 28 candidates ED 300 endorsed were also endorsed by far-right wing organizations, which require people running for office to meet criteria outlined by these conservative groups to earn their support. 

• Parent’s Rights in Education: Oregon affiliate advocated against LGBTQ students in Newberg and challenges the inclusion of affirming transgender identities in school districts across the state. Florida affiliate pushed for “don’t say gay” legislation to prohbit the word and related topics in schools. Oppose the Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education curriculum in Oregon schools, calling the approach "an 'indoctrination' that undermines traditional family life."
• Oregon Family Council: Opposed the marriage equality for all loving and committed couples in Oregon.
• Oregon Right to Life: Opposed to comprehensive, medically accurate sex education and abortion.

Parents expressed deep concern stating that Gonzalez acknowledged that he failed to fight for their kids and has continued to double down on his decision to push for school board candidates who threaten the safety and wellbeing of students, especially LGBTQ+ kids and kids of color.

Rashelle Chase Miller, an early childhood educator and founder of PDX Mxm Bloc:

“In all my years working in early childhood education, I've seen kids perform best when they have a safe space where they can bring their full identities to school and be respected and validated for who they are. The 17 school board candidates Rene supported would hurt kids, period.” 

Se-ah-dom Edmo, Shoshone-Bannock, Nez Perce, and Yakama said: 

“This is about Rene Gonzalez’s lack of judgment and his willingness to trade our children’s future for his personal political agenda and aspirations. His actions show us all that he will not fight for every child and every family.”

Jeana Frazzini, former executive director of Basic Rights Oregon said: 

“Rene Gonzalez demonstrated complete disregard for our kids and their safety just to push his own political agenda. And for that, he will never get a pass. This is a bottom line issue for me as a parent and LGBTQ advocate.”  

Marcus Mundy, executive director for Building Power for Communities of Color said: 

“We need to create a world where all our kids are valued and respected, but when given the chance Rene Gonzalez did not fight for our kids. Instead, he chose his own  narrow agenda over LGBTQ kids, kids of color, kids who deserve to know about our history of race in this country.”