Portland Public Schools includes a drag performer, “Poison Waters,” as part of its back-to-school welcome video, which opens the video. The move draws public criticism from some commentators and political figures.
Fox News and the New York Post both report the backlash, citing Corey DeAngelis, who argues the district is promoting “gender ideology.” DeAngelis also characterizes the video as promotional content tied to school choice. The outlets frame the controversy around whether the district’s messaging and inclusion in the video is appropriate for a school setting.
Both reports center on reactions to the video rather than providing details about the district’s stated rationale for featuring the performer. The differing coverage reflects how critics interpret the video’s intent—while the underlying action described by both sources remains that the performer appears prominently at the start of the district’s welcome message for the school year.
