Grants Pass H.S. Student holds rally against 'I Resolve'

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A student at Grants Pass High School led a rally against the controversial ‘I Resolve‘ movement earlier this evening.

“We’re doing this for students out there who can’t speak up against these issues,” said Deenie Bulyalart, a junior at the school.

Two Grants Pass educators created the movement in April.

It asks local, state, and federal leaders to adopt several principles and policies that are not inclusive of LGBTQ+ students, including that there are only two anatomical gender presentations – male and female.

“I want students and youth and anyone out there who’s part of the LGBTQ community to know that it may not seem like it in our community, but there are people like me who will support you as much as you need,” said Bulyalart.

She says the goal of the rally is to create real change and inclusion since she feels the school district provides students with what she calls empty promises.

Grants Pass School District 7 has been considering recommendations by the superintendent to terminate the two educators who started the movement, even hiring a third-party private investigator to investigate complaints of “violation of district policies”.

Kristin Hosfelt, Communications and Public Relations Specialist for the school district said in a statement: “While we are unable to comment on the specific policies that were allegedly violated, I think it’s important to make the distinction that the District is only looking into the violation of policies, not the merits of the I Resolve Movement.”

“It’s so incredible to see that we can actually start speaking up and showing our kids that it’s okay to be who they are,” said Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equity’s Kayla Wade.

Around 30 people were at the event.

“My one hope for this is for people to understand that we’re human, as well, and as much as you fight us we continue to push for our rights,” Bulyalart said.

The school board is set to announce the results of the investigation this Thursday.

UPDATED 7/15: The previous version of this article stated the school district hired a private investigator to look into the educators social media posts. It has been updated to clarify that the investigator is looking into the educators potentially violating district policies.