FL High School Students Host Walkout Against Parental Rights Law, “Walk Out Against ‘Don’t Say Gay'”
April 22, 2022 Updated 4:09 P.M. ET
NAPLES (FLV) – Students at Palmetto Ridge High School in Naples, Florida, announced plans to host a Friday walkout against what they call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, referring to H.B. 1557, the Parental Rights in Education Act which bans sexual and gender identity topics in grades K-3.
“PRHS GSA PRESENTS: WALK OUT AGAINST ‘DON’T SAY GAY,'” the flyer reads.
The flyer noted that the event “is approved by the administration” and that students will not be penalized for participating.
“STAND AGAINST HATE!”
FLV reached out to Collier County Public Schools for comment on the walkout.
“Students have the constitutional right to assemble and express their First Amendment rights during school hours. However, the rules and the consequences for violating the rules, contained in the CCPS Code of Student Conduct, still apply,” they said.
The district told FLV that the school’s administration “did not approve or deny this demonstration,” citing the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing the right to freedom of speech.
After asking for more clarification on the district’s stance on the Parental Rights in Education Act, Collier gave a short response: “The District follows Florida law.”
It is unclear what “hate” students protesting the new Florida law are protesting.
The new law, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, bans the instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity as topic of class discussion for grades K-3. It also guarantees parental rights to know important aspects of their child’s mental well-being.
After the bill was signed into law by DeSantis, multiple teachers went viral on TikTok for their distress over the inability to teach children about sex.
