Students walk out in Florida while President Biden himself rips Texas as anti-LGBTQ controversies in both states explode

The dual fights in Florida over the 'Don't Say Gay' bill and in Texas over Gov. Greg Abbott's attempt to take trans children away from their affirming parents are past the point of heating up. We're talking Dante Inferno's territory here.

In over 20 Florida schools, students staged walkouts in protest of the 'Don't Say Gay' bill and their presence was felt.

RIGHT NOW | Students at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg are walking out of class in protest of the controversial so-called #DontSayGay bill moving through the legislature, which limits instruction on sexual orientation, gender identity in schools. @10TampaBay #DSGWalkout pic.twitter.com/RovcSSEh2n

— Josh Sidorowicz WTSP (@JoshWTSP) March 3, 2022

Thousands of students across the state are refusing to watch their classmates (or themselves!) be erased by the legislature. They're demanding an end to #DontSayGay .

Are you listening, lawmakers? @GovRonDeSantis @WiltonSimpson @Kathleen4SWFL #FlaPol #DSGWalkout pic.twitter.com/mZ6u9lkvAb

— Equality Florida (@equalityfl) March 3, 2022

Students in Florida today rallied against the state's so-called "Don't Say Gay" by by declaring, "WE SAY GAY."

(video from the amazing folks at @equalityfl) pic.twitter.com/62rXI1S4Aa

— GLAAD (@glaad) March 3, 2022

According to The Daytona Beach News Journal: 

 "Say gay! Say gay! Say gay!"

 That's what more than  500 students chanted at Flagler Palm Coast High School's stadium Thursday morning while waving pride flags in a walkout protesting House Bill 1557. The bill is a controversial measure that would prohibit school instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

 And this situation is far from over. 

PCHS junior Jack Petocz organized the walkout for not only the high school, but for schools across the state to support LGBTQ+ rights for students. More than 20 schools have been identified as participants with hundreds of students in each school showing their opposition to the House Bill by walking out of class. Following the protest, Petocz, told The News-Journal he had been suspended until further notice "pending an investigation."

Meanwhile, the situation in Texas regarding Gov Abbott's directive is a bit less confrontational when it comes to protests. But President Biden and his administration is personally stepping in to help trans kids and their families who are in danger of being separated by Abbott's directive. 

According to the Austin American-Statesman:

The Biden administration criticized Gov. Greg Abbott's order equating gender-affirming medical care with child abuse as discriminatory and dangerous — and encouraged any Texan investigated for such action to file a civil rights complaint with the federal government. In response to Abbott's directive, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance telling all 50 states that it is illegal to deny health care based on gender identity and to restrict how doctors provide care because of a patient’s gender identity.

Other steps DHHS are taking include:

Distributing guidance directing all state child welfare agencies to protect and support LGBTQ youth, including by ensuring access to gender-affirming care.

Distributing guidance on patient privacy to clarify that, "despite the Texas government’s threat, health care providers are not required to disclose private patient information related to gender-affirming care." 

 

Making additional resources available to help Texas families and health care providers targeted for investigation under Abbott's order. 

(Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier) Becerra said those denied access to gender-affirming health care can file a complaint with his agency's Office for Civil Rights.

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