Senior class president Zander Moricz was given explicit instructions as he planned his graduation address to the student body.
Moricz, an openly gay student, had been involved in LGBTQ+ activism prior to the ceremony.
It bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for students from kindergarten through the third grade.
Morciz is the youngest public plaintiff in Florida who is suing the state over the law.
So, how did Moricz navigate this thorny situation?
As someone passionate about social justice, it was important to him that he spoke about identity.
I must discuss the very public part of my identity, Moricz told the audience.
As you know, I have curly hair.
Moricz removed his mortarboard cap and the audience began to clap.
I used to hate my curls.
I spend mornings and nights embarrassed of them trying desperately to straighten this part of who I am.
But the daily damage of trying to fix myself became too much to do, he continued.
In recognizing the educator, he showed the important role that teachers have in a students formative years.
Instead, theyll venture to fix themselves so that they can exist in Floridas humid climate.
I am the youngest public plaintiff in the Dont Say Gay lawsuit.
I am my Florida high schools first openly-gay Class President.
I am being silenced, and I need your help.
This threat is not the first that I have received from administration about my queer rights.
They said they would send school security if I did not listen.
(4/8)
I held the walkout anyways, and it became our countys largest protest.
I wont give into threats and I wont be silenced.
I have a plan to fight back again, and this time, I need your help.
(5/8)
Read my statement for the full story.
