Florida Students Protesting ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Are Giving Us Hope

Anti-gay and anti-trans bills have been sweeping the country lately, and Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill — which would prohibit teachers from mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity under various circumstances, regardless of their own families or identities — has been causing a particular uproar.

Decent people across the country have been vocal about this outrageous attempt to erase LGBTQ+ students and families, and Florida students, in particular, took a major stand earlier this week, with hundreds throughout the state walking out of class in protest.

Video from Winter Park High in Orlando taken during the walkout shows just how many students are against this damaging bill, as they filled the outdoor area surrounding their school chanting, “We say gay!” in direct response to the colloquial name the Parental Rights in Education bill has come to be known by.

At this point, the bill has already passed Florida’s House and Senate, and Governor Ron DeSantis has signaled he will gladly sign it into law.

DeSantis and his fellow Republicans have denounced the bill's detractors and dismissively insist the law isn’t intended to target LGBTQ+ students. In actuality, it is worded broadly enough that any class discussion of non-heterosexual sexual orientation or non-biological gender identity at any age — even if it is not at all sexual in nature — could open the door for parents to bring forth a lawsuit. Critics fear this will result in any acknowledgment of LGBTQ+ people, from school leaders and students alike, becoming taboo — and say that is exactly what the bill intends to do.

Seeing Florida teens rise up in opposition has provided hope that the near future will see the vile people in power pushing anti-trans and anti-gay legislation overwhelmed by new, more inclusive and compassionate generations.