Zander Moricz is many impressive things: an openly gay 18 year old, a Class President, a Harvard-bound future Government major. He’s also the youngest public plaintiff in the lawsuit against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and is preparing to say gay at his school in a big way.
Moricz is poised to deliver a speech at Pine View High School’s graduation as Class President, and after helping fight Ron DeSantis’ infamous bill, we’re sure he has plenty to say. However, in a Twitter thread Moricz published Monday afternoon, it’s clear his high school administration is just as committed to not saying gay as the bill intended.
A few days ago, my principal called me into his office and informed me that if my graduation speech referenced my activism or role as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, school administration had a signal to cut off my microphone, end my speech, and halt the ceremony. (2/8)
— zander moricz (@zandermoricz) May 9, 2022
This apparently isn’t the first time these administrators have blatantly threatened Moricz (the only openly gay Class President in their school’s history, mind you). While organizing a “Say Gay” walkout at the school in March, Moricz was allegedly told school security would be sent after him if he didn’t shut it down.
When administration discovered that I was organizing a Say Gay walkout, they had all our posters ripped from the walls and told me to shut down the protest. They said they would send school security if I did not listen. (4/8)
— zander moricz (@zandermoricz) May 9, 2022
Despite the threats, Moricz’s walkout went on to become the largest of its kind in the school’s county. In the face of the most recent threats to his graduation speech, Moricz and the SEE Initiative (Social Equity and Education) are prepared to send thousands of “Say Gay” stickers to graduating Seniors across the state to wear when they walk the stage (eligible Seniors can sign up to receive theirs here).
Even if his graduation speech ends up censored (we have a feeling he’ll push as many boundaries as ever), Moricz and the SEE Initiative’s message is clear: try as they may, they can never silence us all.
With courageous people like Zander Moricz on our side, the powers that be should know by now that the queer community will not be intimidated.
Mack
Good for him. I’m surprised that Death Santis hasn’t called his Florida Gestapo out to have him arrested.
Kangol2
He should sue DeathSantis & the Florida GQP for shutting down his freedom of speech based on Florida’s Constitution. DeathSantis’s fascist laws need to be challenged in court. Rich Dems, independents and true libertarians (as opposed to fake ones) should challenge every single Florida law shutting down freedom of speech and banning open discussion of controversial topics. The GQP all over the US are now showing they never believed in free speech, peaceful protest, the right to petition the government, or the US Constitution!
Polaro
Not sure this will work within a school framework. You have freedom of speech. Not sure you have the right to say whatever you want in someone else’s forum. Its their mic. They can turn it off. Hate it, but I don’t think the lawsuit is a winner.
cc423
Polaro: if this was a private school, you would be 100% correct, but since this is a taxpayer funded public school, I think a lawsuit may have a chance to proceed.
cuteguy
I first heard about this thru Ariana DeBose Twitter feed. She’s another Lgbtq advocate and through these incredible ppl, they are raising awareness. We have to all be concerned bc if Trumpf doesn’t run again in 2024, Deathsantis is the GQP front runner and the GQP Will attack Biden’s advanced age. That garbage Deathsantis could have a chance which is frightening
charmin88
Ga! ga! ga! gay gay gay ga! ga! gay gay gay Gay is the Way! Could you imagine everytime you started a sentence just to piss them off you say gay.
Polaro
Might make you feel better, probably won’t win any votes.
abfab
Let them try to censor this wonderful young man. It will blow up in their fascist faces. Florida is the new Nazi Germany.
Polaro
They can and they probably will censor him, because they can. Will it blow up in their faces? As in drive republicans to not vote for DeSantis? Doubt it. Nazi Germany? Not yet. Bit hysterical, but it does start somewhere.
monty clift
Sue that bitch!
Fahd
This story should be made into a movie, or at least an after school special. Kudos to Mr. Moricz! I think he’ll go far in life.
abfab
NORMA ZANDER RAE! We got your back. FIGHT! These people are assholes. I love you and I barely know you.
scotty
go gettem tiger!
Invader7
GAY GAY GAY .. Say it EVERYWHERE. And make the Anti-Free Speech gop Neo NAZI FASCISTS reel in horror. And sue the a-holes in state & federal courts and tel them to STFU !! They’re seriously deranged and deluded mentally unstable crazy ass frauds and con artists..
Polaro
So, the smokescreen about grades K through 3 was just that. The trojan horse was always the part of the law that allows local school boards to set policy for all grades. Clearly an 18 year old is old enough to discuss sexuality. He’s old enough to have an Only Fans. This is where the law went wrong with the back end ability for local school boards to do whatever they want. Yet we allowed them to win by arguing about their talking points about grooming 9 year old children, or suggesting to 8 year old boys that they are really girls. We needed to be talking about the trojan horse to stop all discussion at all ages and what teen agers need to know. Its why we smugly lose and then throw fits after losing again. God forbid we have a coherent plan, with clear talking points, that resonates outside our liberal bubble.
Maybe this lad can form a coherent argument. I hope so.
abfab
And much like Hitler and Putin, the bigots in FL did not think any of this thru….oh wait, they don’t think, they read their bibles.
Marco
He should walk to the podium carrying his own bullhorn, make an early reference to it, and use it if necessary.
abfab
A bullet proof vest might be helpful—Perjury Taylor Greenslime and Madsie Poo might show up.
Terrycloth
I hope he gets mega support..I’d go on every tv show that would have me and get your story out every newspaper on all social media. .get large groups everywhere with banners signs and posters. Be loud but be heard..be repetitive, when most of the students stop showing up ,classes are very empty..maybe there will be change..take NO for an anwser..
stafcoyote
Administrators should take a long, hard look at Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, (1969) 393 U.S. 503, which makes their proposed course of action utterly unconstitutional. The student has a viable cause of action. And DeSantis is a viable defendant.
Dr Sarah
‘A few days ago, my principal called me into his office and informed me that if my graduation speech referenced my activism or role as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, school administration had a signal to cut off my microphone, end my speech, and halt the ceremony.’
Of course, if a principal was acting this way about any topic that the right wing agreed with, they would be the first to yell about how terrible cancel culture is.
Jer
This is months old. Can anybody post an update?