A Florida high school student who led walkouts in opposition to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill is speaking out after his school barred him from running for class president.
17-year-old junior Jack Petocz, who identifies as gay, took to Twitter to blast Flagler Palm Coast High School’s action, which comes after he was briefly suspended in March for organizing the protest.
The legislation, which was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in late March, bans teachers from engaging with students on topics of sexual orientation and gender identity in certain grade levels
My name is Jack Petocz. I am the high school junior who led walkouts in opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and was suspended for passing out pride flags. Now, I’m being prevented from running for senior class president. No matter what, I won’t stop fighting for my community. pic.twitter.com/5lG6EYIXo2
— Jack Petocz (@Jack_Petocz) May 17, 2022
“When I returned [from suspension], the administration assured me that no further disciplinary action would be taken. A month later, they broke this verbal agreement and placed a level 3 referral on my record. Now, due to this high level of discipline, I am being prevented from running for senior class president,” Petocz said in the statement on Tuesday.
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“I am continuing to be punished for standing up for my identity and against widespread hatred. I’ve emailed [the] administration and the principal numerous times, they’re simply ignoring me,” he continued.
Petocz also asked for help “in calling on these administrators to stop silencing queer students fighting for a more inclusive future.”
“I won’t be discouraged by this obvious attempt to silence our voices. We will keep protesting, we will keep speaking, we will keep fighting until no child is subjected to this kind of abuse of power. Queer and trans students are beautiful and loved no matter what the state has to say about it,” he said.
In a followup tweet, Petocz encouraged folks to send an email to school and district officials:
If you want to help me fight, click the link below to send an email to administrators and the superintendent of my district. It’s ridiculous queer kids have to be punished while fighting for our rights. https://t.co/oBOKZDLavb
— Jack Petocz (@Jack_Petocz) May 17, 2022
v6origal97
Good for Jack. I am watching Paramount+ New Orleans Real World Homecoming, and I’m just a little younger than Danny. I remember watching him in college, and DREAMING of being as free and open as he was on that show. Watching it now, there is so much that still needs to happen, and I hope kids like Jack will
Inspire others – not just other LGBTQ youth, but grown adults, as well – to stop with their hatred or ignorance.
I emailed using the link in his Twitter comment. Hopefully, every Queerty reader who sees this story will do the same.
Not everyone will fight as openly as Jack, but everyone can support those who are fighting – and doing so on their behalf, as well as future generations.
Invader7
WTF is wrong with Florida? Oh yeah ..It’s being RUINED by Neo-Nazi FASCIST gop operatives..
Tim
Yup. MOron DeSatan. I have confidence he’s gonna eff with the wrong people soon.
Jim
Hasn’t Florida learned not the mess with their teenagers?
Tim
Nope. Still no AR-15 ban. Those kids from Parkland are awesome but nothing came of it.
Mack
I guess he could file a First Amendment lawsuit against the School and School District since they’re considered “government”.
James
I SENT TWO EMAILS TO THE SICK HOMOPHOBE NAZI PRINCIPAL.
I HOPE THE KID TAKES THE LOSERS TO COURT.
OF COURSE IN DUMPS LIKE FLORIDA FREEDOM IS ONLY FOR NAZIS.
MrMichaelJ
I’m usually pretty good at math and the number of big city liberals moving to FL far outnumbers the margin DeSantis won by. We’ll see what actually happens next time at the voting booth.
Mattster
People have been calling Florida a battleground state for years but the R’s keep winning the statewide contests, and not usually by narrow margins. Maybe it will turn blue, as Virginia did, but I suspect it’s more likely to turn red, as West Virginia has. That the three statewide office holders are deSantis, Scott, and Rubio does not bode well.
ZzBomb
I’d like to know where “Gays4Trump” is right now when he was like “IT’S NOT A DON’T SAY GAY BILL!!!! DERP DERP DERP!”
The silence is telling.
white-queer-african
@ZzBomb, the usual troll suspects have been very quiet on Queerty of late? When we expose them for the falsehoods they spreading and the fascist BS they spewing they go into hiding. Let’s hope they stay the f*ck away.
I salute this young man for taking on the homophobe establishment.
glfowler1968
Everyone in the nation should bombard the school district board & help this young man!!! I have a feeling that even though they’ve banned him from running for class president, he’ll win by a landslide from write-in votes!!! Let’s help him!!!
johncp56
Kids do not stop!!! or let them walk on our lives, gays be strong
stafcoyote
I hope litigation ensues. Florida’s war on LGBTQ+
kids and on the First Amendment must not be permitted to continue.
Now, parenthetically, is the time to kill the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court to 13 Justices, one for each circuit.