Author | Lightnews

GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Aug 16

We love hearing stories like this as we wrap up the first week of school in Central Florida! Affirming teachers and schools help LGBTQ+ students thrive and succeed 🫶🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Yellow background with text that says:

"I helped a trans kid to finally ask their parents to fill out the preferred name paperwork and they did! They are so happy to be called by their preferred name!"
Educator success stories make our hearts full!

Thank you to this teacher for helping their student overcome and thrive in Florida!
#BackToSchool2025

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jul 21

🚨THIS WEEKEND!!!

Join us on Saturday for a post-Skrmetti Town Hall with Simone Chriss of Southern Legal Counsel. Simone is one of Florida’s foremost legal experts on trans rights and will share valuable insight on what the ruling means for youth and families in Florida 🏳️‍⚧️

Flyer for the post-Skrmetti Town Hall with Simone Chriss of Southern Legal Counsel. Saturday, July 26th @ 1:00 PM at the Mexican Consulate in Orlando. 2550 Technology Drive 32804.

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jul 18

Grateful to our partners at the Education Action Alliance for also taking a stand against the Florida Department of Education’s discriminatory memo #StrongerTogetherForPublicEd

Florida’s Letter Misses The Mark, Education Action Alliance Demands Schools Center on Student Success

Phoenix, AZ — Florida Education Commissioner Kamoutsa's recent letter highlighting the important rights that parents in Florida already hold. While it is clear that parental involvement is a key facto...

www.educationactionalliance.org

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jul 17

DOE memo ⤵️

Memo from Commissioner Kamoutsas reminding parents of anti-LGBTQ+ laws that have been passed in Florida over the past four years.

GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jul 17

On his first day in office, Florida’s new Commissioner of Education went on a new attack against LGBTQ+ students. We strongly reject his bigoted tropes and call on the entire State Department of Education and Board of Education to do better when it comes to our most vulnerable students.

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GLSEN Central Florida strongly condemns the July 14th memo from Florida Education Commissioner Kamoutsas. Not only is it completely unnecessary to replay to Florida families the extremely hurtful anti-LGBTQ+ and racist laws that have been passed since 2021, his frequent injection of religious sentiment is inappropriate in a state that claims to believe in the First Amendment, which stipulates the separation of church and state.

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Commissioner Kamoutsas makes very clear in this memo his disdain for the LGBTQ+ community and the Florida students who identify as such. This memo is clearly a publicity stunt to let Floridians know there is a "new Sheriff in town" at the Department of Education, and frankly, it's a fail. Doubling down on your hatred for marginalized communities is a sign of weakness and not a standard for which we should hold public officials to.

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If Florida districts have the capacity to send this memo out to every family, then there is no reason that they cannot also send a memo like this to remind families to complete their students' Deviation of Name forms every year, so that we can avoid any more situations like what happened in Brevard County this Spring with the unceremonious dismissal of Ms. Calhoun, a beloved educator in a state in desperate need of them.

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What the Florida Department of Education is missing the mark on, once again, is that students thrive when they are in supportive, inclusive learning environments. Not ones that seek to make every step of their educational journey difficult and demeaning.
We urge the Commissioner and the entire State Board of Education to do better.

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Reposted by GLSEN Central Florida

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · Jul 14

let's take stock here:

(Democratic) Presidents, via the Dept of Education, can't cancel student debt because statutes don't clearly authorize it.

Republican Presidents can cancel/shut down the Dept of Education because, even though only Congress can shut down departments ..., ... 🤷‍♀️ YOLO?

Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · Jul 14

BREAKING: The Supreme Court allows the Trump administration to move forward with the abolition of the Department of Education. It gives no explanation for its order. All three liberals dissent. www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...

From Sotomayor's dissent:

Lifting the District Court’s injunction will unleash
untold harm, delaying or denying educational opportunities
and leaving students to suffer from discrimination, sexual
assault, and other civil rights violations without the federal
resources Congress intended. The majority apparently
deems it more important to free the Government from paying employees it had no right to fire than to avert these very
real harms while the litigation continues. Equity does not
support such an inequitable result.
* * *
The President must take care that the laws are faithfully
executed, not set out to dismantle them. That basic rule
undergirds our Constitution’s separation of powers. Yet today, the majority rewards clear defiance of that core principle with emergency relief. Because I cannot condone such
abuse of our equitable authority, I respectfully dissent.

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jul 14

Celebrating the vibrant and diverse non-binary community today and every day! 💛🤍💜🖤

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jul 13

Thank you so much to everyone who came out for Lectures on Tap with Our Florida, Youth Action Fund, Sunrise, Zoa Glows & our hosts at the Drunken Monkey. If you missed this incredible event, hit the QR code in our photos to donate and help keep one of Florida’s only LGBTQ+ affirming schools open 🫶🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Lectures on Tap flyer at the Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar in Orlando

Dr. Leandra Preston giving a presentation on the state of higher education in Florida

QR code to donate to keep one of Florida’s only LGBTQ+ affirming schools open

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Reposted by GLSEN Central Florida

Kyle Lukoff @kylelukoff.bsky.social · Jul 13

It just keeps unfolding. Everyone has to be ready for this in their communities. www.advocate.com/news/georgia...

Bombshell records expose political plot to oust rural Georgia librarian over LGBTQ+ book

Behind the scenes, Pierce County officials shared conservative social media posts and strategized LaVonnia Moore’s removal after she displayed a book about a trans child.

www.advocate.com

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Reposted by GLSEN Central Florida

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · Jul 2

Parental rights had a mixed bag at SCOTUS over the past week.

Essentially, if you have anti-LGBTQ views, Sam Alito will find a way to twist the law to protect you. If your kids are LGBTQ and you want to protect them, they’ll ignore you.

At Law Dork, I explain:

SCOTUS's parental rights messages: Protect anti-LGBTQ views, ignore LGBTQ people

The court protected religious parents' rights in a case over LGBTQ-related books in classrooms. Days later, the court turned away requests from parents of trans kids.

www.lawdork.com

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 30

As we wrap up #PrideMonth, please read this story and consider a donation to an LGBTQ+ inclusive school in FL that desperately needs assistance to keep its welcoming doors open 🫶🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 #ProtectTransKids

GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 21

In the heart of a Florida community known for hostility toward LGBTQ+ youth & educational censorship, there exists a rare & extraordinary school; a beacon of hope, love & possibility.

This school is in urgent need of funds, please read more & consider a donation in any amount #ProtectTransYouth 🏳️‍⚧️

Donate to Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive, organized by Rainbow Bright

Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive *This fundraiser is to benefit ch… Rainbow Bright needs your support for Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive

www.gofundme.com

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 29

We had a great time at the Trans March at St. Pete Pride today! Thank you to Gender Advancement Project, the National LGBTQ Task Force and other sponsors for bringing the Orlando crew! #ProudAndFree #HappyPride 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Participants at the Trans March at St. Pete Pride

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Reposted by GLSEN Central Florida

GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 21

In the heart of a Florida community known for hostility toward LGBTQ+ youth & educational censorship, there exists a rare & extraordinary school; a beacon of hope, love & possibility.

This school is in urgent need of funds, please read more & consider a donation in any amount #ProtectTransYouth 🏳️‍⚧️

Donate to Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive, organized by Rainbow Bright

Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive *This fundraiser is to benefit ch… Rainbow Bright needs your support for Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive

www.gofundme.com

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Reposted by GLSEN Central Florida

Monado Gamer @monadogamer.bsky.social · Jun 23

The one good part of this state

GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 21

In the heart of a Florida community known for hostility toward LGBTQ+ youth & educational censorship, there exists a rare & extraordinary school; a beacon of hope, love & possibility.

This school is in urgent need of funds, please read more & consider a donation in any amount #ProtectTransYouth 🏳️‍⚧️

Donate to Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive, organized by Rainbow Bright

Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive *This fundraiser is to benefit ch… Rainbow Bright needs your support for Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive

www.gofundme.com

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Reposted by GLSEN Central Florida

Southern Legal Counsel @southernlegal.bsky.social · Jun 23

PART 1: SLC's Trans Rights Director has put out a statement providing folks with updates about the impact of SCOTUS's ruling in Skrmetti & the status of the Passport ban prohibiting gender marker amendments. Link to download PDF of full statement: bit.ly/4egR9F0

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Reposted by GLSEN Central Florida

Ashbasher22 Art; Animation Fan 🌈🍉🇺🇦 @ashbasher22nerd.bsky.social · Jun 23

Boosting because the LGBTQ+ youth need the protection and trust they need to be safe.

Being discriminating towards LGBTQ+ people does not protect children, it harms them even more.

GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 21

In the heart of a Florida community known for hostility toward LGBTQ+ youth & educational censorship, there exists a rare & extraordinary school; a beacon of hope, love & possibility.

This school is in urgent need of funds, please read more & consider a donation in any amount #ProtectTransYouth 🏳️‍⚧️

Donate to Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive, organized by Rainbow Bright

Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive *This fundraiser is to benefit ch… Rainbow Bright needs your support for Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive

www.gofundme.com

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 22

🫶

GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 21

Thank you so much!

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 21

In the heart of a Florida community known for hostility toward LGBTQ+ youth & educational censorship, there exists a rare & extraordinary school; a beacon of hope, love & possibility.

This school is in urgent need of funds, please read more & consider a donation in any amount #ProtectTransYouth 🏳️‍⚧️

Donate to Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive, organized by Rainbow Bright

Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive *This fundraiser is to benefit ch… Rainbow Bright needs your support for Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive

www.gofundme.com

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 16

Check out the new zine, the GSA Power Pack, created by NSC member, Gary N from Hawaii.

This guide is full of helpful tips for educators and student leaders who want to learn more about LGBTQ+ student-led organizations, like GSAs ⤵️

www.glsen.org/sites/defaul...

Lined page with purple overlay that says “GSA Power Pack, a guide for teachers & student leaders”

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 12

Today we solemnly remember the 49 beautiful souls we lost at Pulse and honor them with action 🤍🕊️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ #Pulse #ForThe49 #KeepDancingOrlando

Remembering the 49 Angles June 12, 2016

STANLEY ALMODOVAR III • AMANDA L. ALVEAR • OSCAR A. ARACENA MONTERO • RODOLFO AYALA AYALA - ANTONIO DAVON BROWN • DARRYL ROMAN BURT II - ANGEL CANDELARIO-PADRO • JUAN CHAVEZ
MARTINEZ • LUIS D. CONDE • CORY JAMES CONNELL • TEVIN EUGENE CROSBY • DEONKA DEIDRA DRAYTON • LEROY VALENTIN FERNANDEZ • SIMON ADRIAN CARRILLO FERNANDEZ • MERCEDEZ MARISOL FLORES • PETER OMMY GONZALEZ CRUZ • JUAN RAMON GUERRERO • PAUL TERRELL HENRY • FRANK HERNANDEZ • MIGUEL ANGEL HONORATO • JAVIER JORGE REYES • JASON BENJAMIN JOSAPHAT • EDDIE
JAMAL DROY JUSTICE • ANTHONY LUIS LAUREANO DISLA • CHRISTOPHER ANDREW LEINONEN • JERRY
WRIGHT • ALEJANDRO BARRIOS MARTINEZ • BRENDA MARQUEZ MCCOOL • GILBERTO R. SILVA
MENENDEZ • KIMBERLY JEAN MORRIS • AKYRA MONET MURRAY • LUIS OMAR OCASIO CAPO • GERARDO A.
ORTIZ JIMENEZ • ERIC IVAN ORTIZ-RIVERA • JOEL RAYON PANIAGUA • JEAN CARLOS MENDEZ PEREZ • ENRIQUE L. RIOS JR. • JEAN CARLOS NIEVES RODRÍGUEZ • XAVIER EMMANUEL SERRANO-ROSADO •
CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH SANFELIZ • YILMARY RODRÍGUEZ SOLIVAN • EDDIE SOTOMAYOR JR. • SHANE EVAN
TOMLINSON - MARTIN BENITEZ TORRES • JONATHAN A. CAMUY VEGA • JUAN PABLO RIVERA VELÁZQUEZ •
LUIS SERGIO VIELMA • FRANKY JIMMY DEJESUS VELÁZQUEZ • LUIS DANIEL WILSON-LEON •

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Reposted by GLSEN Central Florida

The Associated Press @apnews.com · Jun 6

The legal aid group Lambda Legal has raised $285 million at a time when attacks on the rights of gay, intersex and transgender people have again intensified.

Lambda Legal, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ rights, exceeded fundraising goal by $105M

The legal aid group Lambda Legal has raised $285 million at a time when attacks on the rights of gay, intersex and transgender people have again intensified.

bit.ly

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Reposted by GLSEN Central Florida

Kyle Lukoff @kylelukoff.bsky.social · Jun 2

Incredibly transphobic of them to launch this on my birthday.

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · Jun 2

From the New York Times, a 5 part podcast ignoring their own role in fomenting a moral panic targeting trans youth.

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GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 1

It’s for our future and our safety. This Pride month, we continue our mission to create safe and inclusive schools for our LGBTQ+ youth, and we encourage you to take action and Unite for Pride. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Learn more at glsen.org/pride

Pride

To browse this site safely, be sure to regularly clear your browser history.

glsen.org

GLSEN Central Florida @glsencfl.bsky.social · Jun 1

Pride is more than just a month of celebrations and recognition of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a protest and a fight for equality. It’s collaboration and support across other marginalized communities.

Pink, red and orange background with white letters that say “HAPPY PRIDE MONTH”

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