Chills. I can’t imagine my own high school showing up like this less than a decade ago to protest disgusting legislation like Florida’s Don’t Say Gay bill. The support Gen Z shows for the LGBTQ community is breathtaking.
The fight goes on. Keep it up.
I think you all need to know the consequences of this brave action.
The kid who started the walkout at the original school was indefinitely suspended, even though he had permission for the demonstration (their excuse is that he got permission for the walkout, but not for the little Pride flags he handed out). Other participating kids at other schools have similarly been punished.
Teachers who supported students walking out are also being punished, fired, blacklisted from working at other schools.
Homophobic kids are ratting out their fellow students and teachers for supporting the walkout to get them in trouble with school administrations.
The consequences are continuing.
So yes, applaud this - this is great, and it’s brave, and it’s inspiring. But be aware of what the reaction has been.
I agree that we do need to be aware of the reaction but like… why do you think we are talking about it being so chillingly brave? My heart stops every time I see people doing stuff like this, not because I am scared of their protest, but because I know the risks they are facing to do so, I know or can guess the possible consequences, I know what would have happened as OP said even a decade ago. Do you think everyone (anyone) sees this and goes “this was only done because there would be no consequences”? Where do you think we think the bravery stems from?
Bravery isn’t just about doing the right thing when others are doing the wrong thing or doing the right thing only when there are no consequences for doing so, nor is it only about being scared and doing something anyway. That “being scared” part? There is something legitimately there to be scared of- the consequences. And bravery in this instance is being scared of exactly that reaction and then doing it anyway because it is right. Bravery in this instance is a large group of people saying “I know this will likely hurt me, but I cannot let them hurt others without protest.”
I may not have heard the exact details of this particular situation, but it’s not hard to guess in general what they’ve faced to do this. And their protest is great, and brave, and inspiring because of what the reaction might have and has been, not in spite of it.
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