Living in Florida as the parent of LGBTQ+ youth for the past few years has been exhausting. Extremist politicians and special interest groups have masqueraded as protectors of parents’ rights in a ruthless quest to silence the increasing diversity of Generation Z and enact discriminatory policies that target LGBTQ+ youth.
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They don’t speak for all parents. I haven’t stopped fighting for my kids, and neither should you.
This week, GLSEN chapters across the country are supporting students as they speak out and break the silence that stands in the way of mutual understanding. For decades, these Day of No Silence actions have drawn attention to the pervasive bullying that LGBTQ+ youth faced in schools. This year, students like my children are using their voices to raise the alarm about the state of the school experience for LGBTQ+ youth, and will do so this Friday on April 4.
Recent data from GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey shows that 83% of LGBTQ+ youth are bullied or harassed at school and 59% of LGBTQ+ youth face discriminatory policies or practices at school. In Florida, we’ve seen this firsthand. The “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” law passed in 2022 started as a targeted restriction for grades K-3, but it evolved into a comprehensive crackdown on free expression that threatened students, teachers, and school districts across the state.
The law had an immediate impact on schools, with picture books featuring two moms or two dads being taken off shelves, teachers being told they couldn’t talk about their families, and Safe Space stickers removed from classrooms. My nonbinary child was in sixth grade at the time, and I took the State of Florida to court to fight for my child. We all fought back, and a legal settlement last year nullified most of the law’s efforts to silence expression related to LGBTQ+ identity.
Now, Donald Trump is trying to revive these failed strategies at a national level. It’s a true race-to-the-bottom. Trump is working to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and weaponizing what is left against marginalized students. He’s launched investigations into school districts, floated prosecution of teachers, and threatened to withhold federal funds from whole states unless transgender youth are silenced.
No matter the noise in Washington, the law itself hasn’t changed. Efforts to suppress free expression and undermine equal treatment are contrary to the founding principles of this country and key legal protections. LGBTQ+ students continue to have rights under the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws, including Title IX. School leaders know that everyone benefits from a safe and welcoming learning environment - it’s not just the right thing to do, but it’s also their legal obligation.
We have a lot of work to do to hold the line and ensure that no one - either in school or in government — bullies our kids. It’s a fight for our future, and we can’t give up now. I’m in. Are you?
Jennifer Cousins is a parent of four, including two LGBTQ+ children, living in Orlando, Florida. She serves as the chair of the Central Florida Chapter of GLSEN. For more information, visit www.glsen.org/activity/know-your-rights.
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