SARASOTA COUNTY – Pine View Class President, Zander Moricz is making headlines and gaining national attention after saying he will be silenced during his graduation speech if he mentions his activism in the LGBTQ+ community.
“There’s nothing controversial about my existence, there is nothing political about who I am,” said Pine View Class President, Zander Moricz.
The first openly gay Class President in Pine View School history, Zander Moricz, is just weeks away from graduating and attending Harvard.
Moricz, is the youngest plaintiff in the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ lawsuit against Governor DeSantis in the state of Florida.
The 18-year-old student was told he would be silenced, by cutting his microphone, ending his graduation speech and halting the ceremony if he references his activism in the LGBTQ+ community.
In response, the Sarasota County School Board says:
“All material performed, spoken, or shown during the ceremony is reviewed and approved by school personnel and administration to be sure it is appropriate to the tone of the ceremony…
With regard to Pine View School, we can confirm that the school’s administrators review students’ speeches annually for appropriateness and length prior to graduation in a manner that is consistent with existing law, including the First Amendment to our Constitution.”
Although Moricz has received support from some school board members, he is disappointed with the districts statement.
“It’s not a personal political opinion, I exist, and I should be able to talk about the fact that I exist, that is not debatable, that is not a first amendment right and that is the way that I was born,” said Moricz.
Moricz is set to graduate from Pine View May 22nd, he hopes his speech will accomplish two things, protect his human rights and ensure his peers will be able to enjoy the ceremony.
“Right now I feel the district is trying make me make that choice, but I will get to have both, and how I manage that will be something we see on the 22nd,” said Moricz.
Moricz says that while his peers have been supportive, Sarasota has not.
“I have received so many emails telling me to go to God, to reflect on why I am a bad person, and to get a lobotomy, it’s never ending and it’s exhausting,” said Moricz.
“Apparently people are calling the school calling about me, threatening me, and my parents don’t want me walking around alone, doing things alone and it sounds dramatic, but that’s just the reality,” said Moricz.
In an interview with Moricz in February, discussing House Bill 1557, known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill which states “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.”
Moricz said “I could be someone who is legally allowed to vote, but cannot identify himself as a queer man in his classes.”
Fast forward a few months later..
“It is incredibly exhausting to have predicted what was going to happen while still having people tell you nothing is going to happen, to anyone who is wondering what effect the law will have, you don’t have to wonder, it’s happening already, the law has not gone into effect and it is already effecting people.”
Moricz has partnered with the Social Equity and Education initiative and Project Pride SRQ to create over 10,000 “Say Gay” stickers that will be shipped to high school senior across Florida.
He says all 10,000 stickers have been accounted for and some have already been sent out.
