They can’t speak about their gender identity and sexual orientation for fear of rejection by their family, but their message was loud and clear this week for the government of Florida, which recently moved forward with a bill called Parental Rights in Education — commonly known by its opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
“I think we’re going backwards,” said the student, who uses “they/them” pronouns and was one of about 40 people who attended the Bridgehampton School’s We Say Gay rally on Friday, a response to Florida’s new law.
“Growing up, I had no way of understanding myself or being able to talk to people around me,” the student said, calling schools “safe spaces.”
“There would be people you could talk to about all kinds of things. Suddenly, I’m watching it being ripped away from the younger generation. It’s very upsetting to me. I would not be here right now if it weren’t for those safe spaces and people.”
The Parental Rights in Education bill prohibits discussions of L.G.B.T.Q.+ identities and issues in kindergarten, first, second, and third-grade classrooms, as well as conversations and lessons that are deemed “not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students,” and paves the way for parents to sue for alleged violations. The bill passed the Florida Legislature by a vote of 22 to 17 on March 8, and as of press time yesterday its fate was with Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign or not sign. Governor DeSantis has previously expressed support for it.
Florida students have staged walkouts in protest. Hundreds of young people rallied against the bill during the LGBT Network’s youth conference at Citi Field in Queens last week, but Bridgehampton students were unable to attend, so the school’s Genders and Sexualities Alliance group staged its own on the school’s front lawn.
Willa Levine, a ninth grader, is president of the club. “Without being able to do research and have people to talk to” about L.G.B.T.Q.+ identities and orientations in school, she said, “I didn’t know how to talk to people who were part of the community, because I didn’t have the proper explanations.”
Emma Kapon, a seventh grader, said that “it felt really good, really empowering” to be at the rally. “I think it was a good idea and a very healthy thing for the kids to know they had a voice.”
It was co-hosted by Hamptons Pride, a nonprofit organization founded by Tom House, a Bridgehampton English teacher, in 2021. “I think it was great for them to see the support of the administration, teachers, and people on the road,” he said.
A tense moment came when a driver in a pickup truck yelled a slur as he passed by the rally. “Right in front of the kids,” Mr. House said. “All the more reason we were out there.”
Another rally at the school is planned for May 6. Both got the green light from Mary Kelly, the Bridgehampton superintendent.
“It’s a great learning opportunity for them to understand how to engage in that kind of discourse and support ideas and values that are important to them,” Ms. Kelly said this week. “I’m very proud of them. I’m proud of their vision and their passion for standing up for what they believe in.”
This story has been updated since it was first published.