Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Sunshine State has been at the forefront of anti-LGBTQ+ K-12 policy passages. In opposition, it has also seen some of the largest demonstrations of queer student activism.
Summary of queer student-lead activism and anti-LGBTQ+ K-12 policy in Florida:
Florida Currently has 6 anti-LGBTQ+ in affect impacting K-12 education
- Sentate Bill 1521 (passed in 2023)
- House Bill 1069 (passed in 2023)
- House Bill 5101 (passed in 2023)
- House Bill 7 (passed in 2022)
- House Bill 1557 (passed in 2022), otherwise known as “Don’t Say Gay”
- Sentate Bill 1028 (passed in 2021)
It has been the site of 20 distinct/large scale instances of student-lead, queer activism
- 6 instances in the capital – Tallahassee, or Leon County, FL
- 4 instances in Miami Dade County, FL
- 2 instances in Hillsborough County, FL
- 2 instances in Sarasota County, FL
- 2 instances in Flagler County, FL
- 2 instances in Palm Beach County, FL
- 1 instance in Orange County, FL
- 1 instance in Lake County, FL
Anti-LGBTQ+ K-12 Policies Currently in Affect:
| Policy | Year Enacted | Policy Type | Summary of Impact | Citation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB 1521 | 2023 | Assigned Sex-Based Facility Restrictions | SB 1521 restricts facilities, such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing areas, to individuals as defined by their assigned sex at birth in public institutions. This includes all K-12 public schools. | Florida Legislature. (2023). House Bill 1521: Facility requirements based on sex (2023 Reg. Sess., C.S./H.B. 1521). Retrieved December 9, 2025, from https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1521/BillText/er/PDF. | |
| HB 1069 | 2023 | Content Restrictions, Preferred Personal Identifier Restrictions | HB 1069 bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from preK-8th grade and requires sex education materials to be approved by the state department of education. It also prevents students, employees, and contractors of schools from being required to disclose their personal pronouns or use the preferred pronouns of others if they do not ‘align’ with their assigned sex at birth. It requires the public cataloging of classroom materials and makes it easier for parents to exercises ‘parental rights’ over school instructional and library content. Finally, it defines sex in Florida’s early education code as a “division of individuals based upon reproductive function.” | Florida Legislature. (2023). CS/CS/HB 1069: Education [Enrolled bill text]. Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1069/BillText/er/PDF. | |
| HB 5101 | 2023 | Preferred Personal Identifier Restrictions | HB 5101 prevents students, employees, or contractors in K-12 schools from being compelled to use the pronouns or names of individuals if they do not correspond to their assigned sex at birth. | Florida Legislature. (2023). HB 5101 [Enrolled bill text]. Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/5101/BillText/er/PDF. | |
| HB 7 | 2022 | Teacher Training Restrictions, Content Restrictions | HB 7 prevents ‘DEI’ training for educators and restricts certain school content related to sex and gender under ‘principles of individual freedom.’ | Florida Legislature. (2022). CS/HB 7: Individual Freedom (Enrolled Bill Text). Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/7/BillText/er/PDF. | |
| HB 1557 | 2022 | Content Restrictions, Forced Outing, Parental Rights Expansion | HB 1557, otherwise known as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, prevents instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity content between grades K-3. It also allows parents to opt their children out of certain content on the basis of religious, moral, or other objections. It creates an objection form for any instructional and library materials for all parents and residents of a county. Additionally, the law also requires parents to be notified if a student seeks mental health services or help for LGBTQ+-related issues, leading to possibility of forced outing. | Florida Legislature. (2022). CS/CS/HB 1557: Parental Rights in Education (Enrolled bill text). Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/BillText/er/PDF. | |
| SB 1028 | 2021 | Transgender Students in Sports | SB 1028 restricts transgender individuals from participating on sports teams that do not align with their assigned sex at birth. | Florida Legislature. (2021). CS/SB 1028: Education (Enrolled bill text). https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1028/BillText/er/PDF. |
Queer Youth Resistance:
| Action | Year | Location | Type of Activism | Summary | Citation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 students sue FL district for banning a book about two male penguins raising a baby | 2023 | Lake County, FL | Lawsuit | Six students, their families, and authors of the book And tango makes three sued Lake County school district stating that the book ban violates the first amendment. This lawsuit indirectly challenges HB 1069, which the district uses to justify its ban, as the plaintiffs claim the law is vague and overly broad. | NBC News. (2023, May 18). Students and authors sue Florida school district over book ban. NBC Out. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/students-authors- sue-florida-school-district-book-ban-rcna90219 | |
| “Walkout 2 Learn” in response to the expansion of “Don’t Say Gay” | 2023 | Sarasota County, FL | School Walkout | The new, “Walkout 2 Learn” movement organized a walkout, which originated in Sarasota County through the student-run organization Social Equity through Education Alliance (SEE) and its founder Zander Moricz. It also gained traction in schools across Florida and support from countless communities in other states in an effort to fight DeSantis’ push to further limit youth LGBTQ+ civil rights. “Walkout 2 Learn” is distinct from traditional school walk outs because it invites students join peer-led, banned curriculum lessons while boycotting school. | DiBenedetto, C. (2023, April 20). Florida students ‘Walkout 2 Learn’: How to join their education revolution. Mashable.com. Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document- viewp=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/19109A8623E339B0. | |
| A 14-year old named Zen shares their narrative | 2023 | Miami Dade County, Florida | Personal Storytelling | Zen, a 14-year old student at a Miami Dade County school publicizes their personal experiance with being nonbinary in 2023 in Florida. They share their fears over HB 1069 and its restriction on preferred pronouns, which would significantly, negatively impact their experiance at school. | Ceballos, A. (2023, March 10). Pronouns in school would have to align with sex at birth, proposal says. Tampa Bay Times: Web Edition Articles (FL). Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.revproxy.brown.edu/apps/news/document-view? p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1902F373A053AA50&f=basic#copy | |
| Student activist Zander Moricz publicly shames his school district for censoring his graduation speech | 2022 | Sarasota County, FL | Speech, Personal Storytelling | Zander Moricz had his graduation speech censored, so instead of directly discussing his queer activism, he used a powerful metaphor. After the speech, he went public, shaming the Sarasota school district for censoring his speech. | ROBERTS NEW YORK, R. (2022, May 23). HS CLASS PRESIDENT SAYS GRADUATION SPEECH CENSORED – NOT ALLOWED TO MENTIONED “DON’T SAY GAY” LAW. Good Morning America (USA). Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view? p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/18AB44E1AB423418. | |
| Student activist Jack Petocz organizes a walkout of over 500 students in Flagler County to oppose HB 1577 | 2022 | Flagler County, FL | Walkout | Jack Petocz organized a walk out in opposition to HB 1577 which attracted over 500 students at his high school and around 250 at a neighboring school. Following the walkout, Petocz was suspended for distributing pride flags during the protest. | WORONOFF, B. (2022, March 10). FPC, Matanzas students walk out, say ‘gay’. Palm Coast Observer, The (FL), p. 10. Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news /document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/189812E3C8CCAB98, Harper, M. (2022, May 19). LGBTQ+ activist says he’s barred from running for student council. Daytona Beach News-Journal, The (FL), p. D1. Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view? p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/18A18649241797F0. | PDF PDF |
| Youth activist Liana Friedman and others at her school in Miami Dade County staged a walkout against HB 1577 | 2022 | Miami Dade County, FL | Walkout | Liana Friedman and her classmates a high school in Miami Dade County staged a walkout that attracted over a hundred student to oppose HB 1577. | Pulgar, E. R. (2022, May 11). 10 Florida activists fighting for a brighter, queerer future. i‑D. https://i-d.co/article/dont-say-gay-youth-activists-florida/. | |
| Activist Nathalie Saladrigas founded the Queer Collective in Miami and led a mass phone banking campaign against HB 1577 | 2022 | Miami Dade County, FL | Organization Building, Phone banking | Youth activist Nathalie Saladrigas founded the Queer Collective in Miami Dade County to create a space for queer folk focused on liberation. The organization led a mass phone banking campaign against HB 1577 and helped support local protests in the Miami area. | Pulgar, E. R. (2022, May 11). 10 Florida activists fighting for a brighter, queerer future. i‑D. https://i-d.co/article/dont-say-gay-youth-activists-florida/. | |
| Students Will Larkins and Maddi Zornek led a walkout against HB 1577 attracting over 500 students | 2022 | Orange County, FL | Walkout | Will Larkins and Maddi Zornek organized a walkout at their school the day before HB 1577 passed through the Florida Senate. The action brought together over 500 students in an attempt to convince lawmakers to prevent its passage. | Larkins, W. (2022, March 12). Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill will hurt teens like me. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/12/opinion/ florida-dont-say-gay-bill.html, Pulgar, E. R. (2022, May 11). 10 Florida activists fighting for a brighter, queerer future. i‑D. https://i-d.co/article/dont-say- gay-youth-activists-florida/. | PDF PDF |
| Student-led nonprofit PRISM fights for comprehensive sex education in Miami-Dade County | 2022 | Miami-Dade County, FL | PRISM begins its flight to expand sex education resources in southern Florida by advocating to the adoption of key sex education textbooks in the Miami Dade district curriculum. | PRISM FL, Inc. (n.d.). Our history. PRISM FL. https://www.prismfl.org/our-history. | ||
| Students, including activist Zander Moricz, parents, and educators sue the state of Florida after the passage of HB 1577 | 2022 | Tallahassee, or Leon County, FL | Lawsuit | Only three days after Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill was passed into law, Zander Moricz, the founder of SEE, and other students and families filed a lawsuit against the law with the support of Equality Florida, Family Equality and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The Pantiffs argue that the protected rights of free speech, equal protection, and due process for students and families are violated by this law. | Alfonseca, K. (2022, March 31). Lawsuit filed against Florida’s so‑called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law within days of signing. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com /US/lawsuit-filed-floridas-called-dont-gay-law-days/story?id=83787668. | |
| Activist Javier Gomez, and other students, meet with the federal Secretary of Education | 2022 | Miami Dade County, FL | Lobbying | Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and other Biden administration officials met with Javier Gomez and other students during a roundtable to discuss recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed in Florida which target queer youth. | Lavietes, M. (2022, March 18). Biden administration meets with Florida LGBTQ students over “Don’t Say Gay” bill. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com /nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/biden-administration-meets-florida-lgbtq- students-dont-say-gay-bill-rcna20515 | |
| Youth activist Will Larkins spoke in opposition to the “don’t say gay” bill on its final day in committee | 2022 | Tallahassee, or Leon County, FL | Legislative Advocacy, Speech | Will Larkins, a student from Orange County, spoke on the sentate floor before the passage of HB 1577 in one last effort to prevent its passage. | Larkins, W. (2022, March 12). Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill will hurt teens like me. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/12/opinion/ florida-dont-say-gay-bill.html | |
| Student activist Jack Petocz publicly requests an audience with DeSantis before he signs HB 1557 | 2022 | Flagler County, FL | Formal Advocacy, Petitioning | Student activist Jack Petocz publicly published a letter he wrote addressed to Governor DeSantis requesting an audience with the governor before he signs the “don’t say gay” bill. Jack asks DeSantis to reflect on the series of walkouts that have occurred in Florida schools in response to the bills passage through both legislative bodies, some of which he organized. | PETOCZ, J. (2022, March 10). Student seeks audience with DeSantis about gender bill’s impact. Palm Coast Observer, The (FL), p. 6. Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view? p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/189812E3C34DB7E8. | |
| Student Activist Javier Gomez testified on the Florida sentate floor against “don’t say gay” bill | 2022 | Tallahassee, or Leon County, FL | Legislative Advocacy, Speech | Javier Gomez, a student from Miami Dade County, spoke on the sentate floor to oppose Florida’s “don’t say gay bill.” | Brugal, S. (2022, March 10). Miami students protest ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill at Capitol before vote. Miami Herald. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article258919318.html | |
| Dozens of students, with the support of some elected officials and advocacy groups protested the “don’t say gay” bill set to pass through the senate | 2022 | Tallahassee, or Leon County, FL | Protest | Dozens of student, elected officials and advocacy groups traveled from Miami Dade County to Tallahassee, Florida’s capital to protest the “don’t say gay” bill set to pass through the senate. | Brugal, S. (2022, March 10). Miami students protest ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill at Capitol before vote. Miami Herald. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article258919318.html | |
| PRISM non-profit student leaders lobbied lawmakers in the capital in an effort to prevent the passage of HB 1577 | 2022 | Tallahassee, or Leon County, FL | Lobbying | The student leaders of the non-profit organization PRISM lobbied lawmakers in the capital of Florida, Tallahassee, in an effort to prevent the passage of HB 1577. | Brugal, S. (2022, March 10). Miami students protest ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill at Capitol before vote. Miami Herald. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article258919318.html | |
| 250+ student walkout at Hillsborough High School to protest HB 1577 | 2022 | Hillsborough County, FL | Walkout | Over 250 students staged a walkout at Hillsborough High School in opposition to HB 1577, which at the time was on the State Sentate floor. | (2022, March 4). Tampa Bay Times (FL), p. 15. Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view? p=WORLDNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A16B57E4C8DDE4718 %40AWNB-1888762CE8A7BBEB%402459643- 1888763DE61271AE%4014-1888763DE61271AE%40. | |
| 100+ student walkout at Lakeview High School to protest HB 1577 | 2022 | Hillsborough County, FL | Walkout | Over 100 students staged a walkout at Lakeview High School in opposition to HB 1577, which at the time was on the State Sentate floor. | S. Solochek and Marlene Sokol — Times Staff Writers, J. (2022, March 4). Students walk out, protest bill. Tampa Bay Times (FL), p. 3. Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/18888F01EC4A1AB0. | |
| Youth Activist Kaylee Sandell give a speech against HB 1577 | 2022 | Tallahassee, or Leon County, FL | Speech | Student activist Kaylee Sandell gave a speech at a press conference in Florida’s capital in opposition to HB 1577, Florida’s “don’t say gay” law. | Baker-Jordan, S. (2022, February 24). Commentary: Don’t-Say-Gay bill will harm the kids it claims to help. The Daily Yonder. https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-dont-say-gay-bills-will-harm -the-kids-they-claim-to-help/2022/02/24/. | |
| Activist Maxx Fenning and fellow Palm Beach county students found PRISM | 2020 | Palm Beach County, FL | Organization Building | Activist Maxx Fenning and fellow Palm Beach county students found PRISM, a nonprofit working to expand access to LGBTQ+ inclusive education and sexual health resources for youth in South Florida | PRISM FL, Inc. (n.d.). Our history. PRISM FL. https://www.prismfl.org/our-history. |