A survey distributed by the government of New Mexico asked high school students whether they identify as “two-spirit” or transgender, drawing concerns from parents.
The 2025 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey asked middle and high school students deeply personal questions about their sexual preferences, drug use, and whether they had ever had suicidal thoughts. The survey is the result of a partnership between the state’s Public Education Department and the Department of Health, with the stated goal of assessing “risk behaviors” among students.
Some of the questions on both the middle and high school surveys this year raised eyebrows. The survey was flagged by Defending Education, an organization that works to get politics out of the classroom. Parents are allowed to opt their kids out of the survey, but advocates say the questions expose children to mature themes that would be better introduced at home.
On the high school survey, students were asked if they described themselves as “heterosexual (straight),” “gay or lesbian,” “bisexual,” “I describe my sexual identity some other way,” “I am not sure about my sexual identity (questioning),” and “I do not know what this question is asking.”
Another question said, “Some people describe themselves as transgender, two-spirit, or non-binary when their sex at birth does not match the way they think or feel about their gender. Do you consider yourself transgender, two-spirit, or non-binary?”
“Two-spirit” is a supposed term used by LGBT activists to describe American Indians who identify as both male and female. Though the term seems to imply ancient origins, it was coined by Myra Laramee, an LGBT activist, in 1990.
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Other questions on the topic of sexuality ask the students how old they were when first having sex (with the option starting at age 11 and younger), how many people they have had sex with, if condoms were used during sex, what kind of birth control they used when last having sex with an “opposite sex partner,” and if they have had sex with males or females or both.
Middle schoolers were also asked if they had had sex before and what their sexual orientation was. They were given options of straight, gay, bisexual, or other.
Other questions that raised concerns from parents focused on suicide. Questions on this included if they had ever considered committing suicide and if they had ever made a plan to commit suicide.
Erika Sanzi, Defending Education’s senior director of communications, said the questions were very troubling.
“All 11-year-olds should not have to answer questions about their gender identity, sexuality, or suicidal ideation,” Sanzi told The Daily Wire. “As of now, parents can opt out. Perhaps it’s time to make these surveys opt-in instead. There really is no justification for asking asymptomatic children if they’ve ever made a suicide plan — that’s a scary question and it has no place in a school classroom.”
The New Mexico Youth Risk and Resilience Survey is linked to the CDC’s Youth Risk Surveillance System. The Trump administration made changes to that system, but a judge blocked those changes. As a result, the administration has a disclaimer posted on the website.
“Per a court order, HHS is required to restore this website to its version as of 12:00 AM on January 29, 2025. Information on this page may be modified and/or removed in the future subject to the terms of the court’s order and implemented consistent with applicable law,” the web notice says. “Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from truth.”
“The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology due to the harms and divisiveness it causes. This page does not reflect reality and therefore the Administration and this Department reject it,” the notice adds.
New Mexico’s survey is administered every other year, and parents are given an opportunity to opt their kids out. Answers to the questions are supposed to be anonymous, administrators say.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.
