Our view: River Valley anti-gay mencement speech, rponse unacceptable 2022

Contents:

• TOLD NOT TO SAY ‘GAY’ GRADUATN SPEECH, HE MA HIS POT ANYWAY
• HIGH SCHOOL GRAD ULDN’T SAY ‘GAY’ SPEECH, SO HE DID THIS STEAD
• THIS FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL STUNT WASN’T ALLOWED TO SAY GAY HIS GRADUATN SPEECH
• GAY FLORIDA STUNT BRILLIANTLY OUTSMARTS SCHOOL ADMISTRATN WHO CENSORED HIS GRAD SPEECH
• 'CURLY HAIR' BE FOR GAY FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL GRAD SPEECH AFTER SENR SAYS HE WAS CENSORED
• OH RAL HIGH SCHOOL CL TO APOLOGIZE AFTER ANTI-GAY MENCEMENT SPEECH
• FLORIDA STUNT SKIRTS ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ A BETIFUL GRADUATN SPEECH
• OUR VIEW: RIVER VALLEY ANTI-GAY MENCEMENT SPEECH, RPONSE UNACCEPTABLE 2022
• BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS GAY VIRAL NVOTN SPEECH
• 'I FELT LIKE CRYG': ANTI-GAY MENCEMENT SPEECH AT OH HIGH SCHOOL SPARKS OUTRAGE
• SHOP SUAL WGIRL-SPIRED OUTFS FOR FALLOPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHNEWSFLORIDA HIGH SCHOOLER WHO SAYS HE WAS CENSORED GRADUATN SPEECH SPEAKS OUT7:19FLORIDA STUNT ALLEG HE WAS TOLD NOT TO MENTN ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ LAW BYNILE CURTIS AND LRA ZACROMAY 23, 2022, 11:34 AM•4 M READA FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL STUNT WHO IS OPENLY GAY IS SPEAKG OUT AFTER HE SAYS HE WAS SUBJECTED TO CENSORSHIP BY SCHOOL OFFICIALS IF HE MENTNED THE STATE’S “PARENTAL RIGHTS EDUTN” LAW, ALSO LLED THE “DON’T SAY GAY” LAW BY CRICS, HIS GRADUATN SPEECH.ZANR MORICZ, A SENR AND THE PRINT OF HIS GRADUATG CLASS AT PE VIEW SCHOOL OSPREY, FLORIDA, CLAIMED HE WAS BEG “SILENCED” A TWTER THREAD TWO WEEKS AGO. HE WROTE, “MY PRCIPAL LLED ME TO HIS OFFICE AND RMED ME THAT IF MY GRADUATN SPEECH REFERENCED MY ACTIVISM OR ROLE AS A PLATIFF THE LAWSU, SCHOOL ADMISTRATN HAD A SIGNAL TO CUT OFF MY MICROPHONE, END MY SPEECH, AND HALT THE CEREMONY.”MORICZ IS ALSO ONE OF THE YOUNGT PLATIFFS A LAWSU FILED AGAST THE STATE OF FLORIDA OVER THE “PARENTAL RIGHTS EDUTN” LAW.THE 18-YEAR-OLD TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI" HE WAS WORRIED AHEAD OF THE SPEECH BUT FELT SUPPORTED BY HIS FELLOW CLASSMAT AND PEERS, SOME OF WHOM WORE “SAY GAY” STICKERS AND STOOD UP AND CHEERED DURG HIS SPEECH SUNDAY.“THERE WAS A LOT OF HATE AND A LOT OF FEAR SURROUNDG THE SPEECH ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WERE GOG TO DO IF SOMEONE WAS GOG TO REACT POORLY BEE WAS REALLY PRENT THE MUNY -- THAT HATRED AND THAT FEAR -- AND SO I WAS WORRIED AND I KNEW THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL TO CUT THE MIC," HE TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI" MONDAY."TO HAVE A STANDG OVATN LIKE THAT AND A RPONSE LIKE THAT OM ALL OF THE PEOPLE WAS AMAZG,” HE SAID. "IT WAS REALLY A GREAT FALE FOR FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL."EDOR’S PICKSLAWSU FILED AGAST FLORIDA'S SO-LLED 'DON'T SAY GAY' LAW WH DAYS OF SIGNGMAR 31, 2022'WHAT PARENTS ARE THEY SUPPORTG?': MOMS SPEAK OUT AGAST 'DON'T SAY GAY' LAWMAR 30, 2022FLORIDA ERNOR SIGNS NTROVERSIAL 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL TO LAWMAR 28, 2022MORE: DO AMERINS SUPPORT FLORIDA'S NEW PARENTAL RIGHTS TN LAW?MORICZ, AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOTE FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS, REFERRED TO HIS "CURLY HAIR" AS A PHEMISM FOR BEG GAY HIS SPEECH.“THIS CHARACTERISTIC HAS PROBABLY BEE THE FIRST THG YOU THK OF WHEN YOU THK OF ME AS A HUMAN BEG. AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE CURLY HAIR,” MORICZ SAID HIS SPEECH.“THERE ARE GOG TO BE SO MANY KIDS WH CURLY HAIR WHO NEED A MUNY LIKE PE VIEW AND THEY WILL NOT HAVE ONE. INSTEAD, THEY’LL TRY TO FIX THEMSELV SO THAT THEY N EXIST FLORIDA’S HUMID CLIMATE,” HE NTUED.MORE: TEACHERS SPEAK OUT AS FLORIDA’S 'DON’T SAY GAY' BILL HEADS TO DESANTIS' SKSEEMG TO TRY TO WALK A FE LE BETWEEN FOLLOWG THE LAW AND ALLOWG MORICZ TO LIVER HIS SPEECH AS CLASS PRINT, PE VIEW SCHOOL APPROVED HIS PHEMISM-LAN REMARKS ADVANCE.IN A STATEMENT RELEASED BEFORE GRADUATN, THE SCHOOL SAID PART: “STUNTS ARE REMD THAT A GRADUATN SHOULD NOT BE A PLATFORM FOR PERSONAL POLIL STATEMENTS … SHOULD A STUNT VARY OM THIS EXPECTATN DURG THE GRADUATN, MAY BE NECSARY TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTN.”MORICZ SAID HAVG TO MODIFY HIS GRADUATN SPEECH WAS MORE THAN JT DISAPPOTG.“IT WAS A REALLY HUMANIZG CISN BEE I HAD TO TAKE SOMETHG I HAD WRTEN AND ... I HAD TO FD A WAY TO BE CLEVER TO DISCS WHO I WAS,” HE SAID. "BEE THE DISTRICT AFFIRMED THAT THEY SUPPORTED ACTN IF I BROUGHT UP THE LAWSU OR THE ADVOCY AROUND , I KNEW THAT THE THREAT TO CUT THE MIC WAS VERY REAL, SO I WASN'T GOG TO LET THAT HAPPEN AND I JT HAD TO BE CLEVER ABOUT . BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO BE BEE I DON'T EXIST A PHEMISM AND I SERVE TO BE CELEBRATED AS IS.”MORICZ’S ATTORNEY, ROBERTA KAPLAN, CLAIMS THE “PARENTAL RIGHTS EDUTN” LAW WAS WRTEN TO BE OVERLY BROAD AND OPEN-END ON PURPOSE.“ZANR WAS CENSORED AND HE SHOULDN’T HAVE HAD TO CENSOR HIMSELF AND NOT BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHO HE REALLY IS AT HIS MENCEMENT SPEECH," KAPLAN TOLD "GMA." “THIS IS JT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. THE LAW SELF WAS LIBERATELY WRTEN TO BE AS VAGUE AND AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE. SO WHAT YOU GET IS WHAT YOU SAW WH ZANR AND OBVLY APPLI TO MENCEMENT. WE SAW THAT JT YTERDAY, AND APPLI MANY, MANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANC.”MORICZ CREDS ONE OF HIS TEACHERS FOR HELPG HIM E OUT AS A YOUNG TEENAGER AND SAID THE LAW WOULD PREVENT OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE OM FEELG SAFE AND PROTECTED TO DO SO.“WHAT THIS LAW DO IS, EFFECTIVELY TAK AWAY THE ONLY GUARANTEED SAFE SPACE OM THE MAJORY OF THE ENTIRE LGBTQ POPULATN HERE," HE SAID. "THAT'S HORRIFYG BEE WHAT YOU THEN HAVE IS SO MANY CHILDREN BEG FORCED TO MAKE THE CHOICE BETWEEN G OUT UNSAFELY OR NOT G OUT AT ALL.”MORICZ SAID HE PLANS ON ADVOTG FOR THE LGBTQ+ MUNY AND IS STUDYG ERNMENT AT HARVARD UNIVERSY THE FALL."I'M GOG TO BE NCENTRATG ERNMENT SO I N TRY AND FIX THE SAME PROBLEMS I'M TRYG TO FIX NOW,” HE SAID.EDOR’S PICKSLAWSU FILED AGAST FLORIDA'S SO-LLED 'DON'T SAY GAY' LAW WH DAYS OF SIGNGMAR 31, 2022'WHAT PARENTS ARE THEY SUPPORTG?': MOMS SPEAK OUT AGAST 'DON'T SAY GAY' LAWMAR 30, 2022FLORIDA ERNOR SIGNS NTROVERSIAL 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL TO LAWMAR 28, 2022UP NEXT NEWS—FLORIDA WOMAN REVERG OM STGRAY ATTACK SHAR EXPERIENCE AFTER CLOSE LLAUGT 29, 2023SPANISH SOCCER STAR LEARNS OF FATHER'S ATH AFTER WNG WOMEN'S WORLD CUPAUGT 21, 2023UBER ANNOUNC DONATN TO SUPPORT MI FIRE RELIEFAUGT 17, 2023MI STRONG: CHARI TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT WILDFIRE RELIEF EFFORTSAUGT 17, 2023UP NEXT NEWS—FLORIDA WOMAN REVERG OM STGRAY ATTACK SHAR EXPERIENCE AFTER CLOSE LLAUGT 29, 2023SPANISH SOCCER STAR LEARNS OF FATHER'S ATH AFTER WNG WOMEN'S WORLD CUPAUGT 21, 2023UBER ANNOUNC DONATN TO SUPPORT MI FIRE RELIEFAUGT 17, 2023MI STRONG: CHARI TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT WILDFIRE RELIEF EFFORTSAUGT 17, 2023
• IN COMMENCEMENT SPEECH, BRIGHAM YOUNG GRADUATE ‘PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD’

TOLD NOT TO SAY ‘GAY’ GRADUATN SPEECH, HE MA HIS POT ANYWAY

Senr Class Print Zanr Moricz was tapped wh givg a mencement speech at Pe View School Osprey, Fla., but was given a rtrictn not normally attached to such an openly gay activist who is the youngt platiff a lawsu agast a new state law that rtricts what teachers n say class about genr and sexual orientatn, the teenager said publicly that he had been warned by his prcipal not to mentn his activism or say the word “gay. Kelsey Whealy, a spokwoman for Sarasota County Schools, said a May 10 email that Pe View’s prcipal “did meet wh Zanr Moricz to remd him of the ceremony expectatns” but did not say he had been told not to say “gay.

”The Parental Rights Edutn bill — which crics have labeled the “don’t say gay” bill — was signed March 28 by Florida Gov.

HIGH SCHOOL GRAD ULDN’T SAY ‘GAY’ SPEECH, SO HE DID THIS STEAD

The law go to effect July platiffs the lawsu allege that the law harms LGBTQ stunts and fai and vlat their First Amendment right to eedom of speech, as well as their nstutnal right to equal protectn unr the n watch Moricz’s speech here:florida high school class print zanr moricz was told by his school that they would cut his microphone if he said “gay” his grad speech, so he replaced gay wh “havg curly hair. 48 hours later, 10, 000 Say Gay stickers were claimed across Florida.

High school grad uldn't say 'gay' speech, so he did this stead.

THIS FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL STUNT WASN’T ALLOWED TO SAY GAY HIS GRADUATN SPEECH

The class print at a Florida high school says he wasn't allowed to share his experience as a gay stunt his graduatn speech or how the state's so-lled "Don't Say Gay" law will affect stunts like him, so he got creative.

The 18-year-old said the cisn to censor his speech was “humanizg, ” but he didn’t want to risk g the ceremony for his fellow he did what he was told to– never mentned the word “gay, ” but ma his pot right their face anyway. The senr class print and openly gay Zenr Moricz has recently shared how his high school prcipal threatened to cut off his microphone if he talked about his activism and ed the word “gay”Image creds: zanrmoriczZanr Moricz, a senr and the print of his graduatg class at Pe View School Osprey, Florida, tweeted that he was beg “silenced” a thread two weeks ago. “This effort to ntrol young mds through state censorship — and to mean LGBTQ liv by nyg their realy — is a grave abe of power, ” is what the lawsu was not allowed to talk about his activism but he me up wh a brilliant way to shred “Don’t Say Gay” law this censored graduatn speechImage creds: Liz BallardImage creds: Liz BallardImage creds: Liz BallardImage creds: Liz BallardImage creds: Liz BallardImage creds: Liz BallardImage creds: Liz BallardImage creds: Liz BallardMoricz exprsed his worry ahead of the speech but told Good Morng Ameri on Monday that he felt the support om his fellow classmat and peers.

Some of them wore “Say Gay” stickers and stood up and cheered durg his speech said: “There was a lot of hate and a lot of fear surroundg the speech about what people were gog to do if someone was gog to react poorly bee was really prent the muny – that hatred and that fear – and so I was worried and I knew that there was a potential to cut the mic. "Durg a graduatn ceremony Sunday, Zanr Moricz spoke about his experienc and activism as the first openly gay class print of Pe View School Osprey, Florida, but his mencement addrs, he never said he was gay. "Opn: Three generatns later, LGBTQ children still need supportIn se you missed :LGBTQ groups, parents file feral lawsu opposg Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' lawMoricz is the youngt platiff a lawsu agast Florida's parental rights and tn law, often referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, and has been outspoken his opposn to and how would affect his speech, he didn't say "gay" once.

GAY FLORIDA STUNT BRILLIANTLY OUTSMARTS SCHOOL ADMISTRATN WHO CENSORED HIS GRAD SPEECH

Edwards, who is openly gay, said Moricz served to be celebrated for who he is. After suggtg the stunts “choose a spoe, ” McGuire “strongly” suggted to “choose biblil prcipl, you know a male wh a female and female wh a male, ” drawg cricism om those who terpreted his speech as anti-gay. Ka Ebert, a member of the 2022 River Valley graduatg class who intifi as gay, said that pccipal Barry Dutt apologized to his fay private, but the fay remaed disappoted at the district’s lack of rponse, the Marn Star reported.

The edorial board of the Marn Star nmned the district, statg the “anti-gay mencement speech” was “unacceptable 2022, ” particularly for a public school ceremony.

“It’s bee clear you’re ashamed that I’m gay, ” Andrew Kohn, an Ohan who sent a letter to The Columb Dispatch, wrote, nmng the speech and the state. Murray also said he did not believe McGuire’s speech was “anti-gay. A Florida teen givg a mencement speech found a betiful way to munite his LGBTQ advocy to stunts after beg told that if he mentned the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, his microphone would be shut Moricz, the senr class print—and first openly gay print—of Pe View School for the Gifted, cid to e his curly hair to send a msage about beg yourself and stayg te to who you are, no matter who tri to tell you otherwise.

'CURLY HAIR' BE FOR GAY FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL GRAD SPEECH AFTER SENR SAYS HE WAS CENSORED

”I am the youngt public platiff the “Don’t Say Gay” lawsu. I am my Florida high school’s first openly-gay Class Print. ”In his speech, he didn’t say “gay” one time.

His origal plan was to e his spotlight to cricize the state’s Parental Rights Edutn, or “Don’t Say Gay” law. The ntroversial bill forbids discsns about sexualy, sexual orientatn, and genr inty elementary has also been vol about beg silenced on Twter, wrg part that he is the “first openly gay Class Print my school’s history–this censorship seems to show that they want me to be the last. "More: Marn DD Board asks for McGuire's rignatn after anti-gay River Valley graduatn speechWhile we regnize and rpect that people have personal beliefs, and is likely some Marn County rints share the view prented, we hope is clear that sayg this at a graduatn ceremony was a ment would likely be ntroversial even some relig school graduatns.

Havg a mencement speaker sentially nfirm that beg gay is "wrong" n only make the suatn a superficial level, now every graduate will have the memory of their graduatn ceremony tarnished by a speech that exclud some of their classmat and created an unnecsary bad as the speech was, the school's rponse was no better.

OH RAL HIGH SCHOOL CL TO APOLOGIZE AFTER ANTI-GAY MENCEMENT SPEECH

That is not school district gave McGuire the platform to spread his anti-gay msage, but they didn't even apologize for the speech after happened. Edorial BoardDave ClabornBenjam LankaThera LubkeCory RogersJulie WelchThis article origally appeared on Marn Star: River Valley anti-gay mencement speech, rponse unacceptable.

BYU graduate Matt Easton me out as gay his nvotn speech on April 26, sayg he was “proud to be a gay son of God.

FLORIDA STUNT SKIRTS ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ A BETIFUL GRADUATN SPEECH

” The dience cheered after Easton said he stood before his fay, iends and graduatg class “proud to be a gay son of God. The day of his speech, Easton tweeted that was the first time he had publicly clared he is gay, though he had been slowly g out to close iends and fay members.

This after the 18-year-old posted to social media that his planned msage on gay rights and the "Don't Say Gay" law, was beg "censored" by school officials. "I was elected for the first time hman year and elected every year sce so this is a speech I've actually been thkg about for years, " he the four-time class print told ABC Actn News that the speech he'd always dreamed of givg changed after Hoe Bill 1557, also known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, was signed to law prohibs school staff om talkg about sexual orientatn and genr inty wh kids Krgarten through 3rd is openly gay and said, among other thgs, the law is a threat to LGBTQ+ stunts who may see school as a safe space.

OUR VIEW: RIVER VALLEY ANTI-GAY MENCEMENT SPEECH, RPONSE UNACCEPTABLE 2022

"That's where I gaed the nfince to be publicly gay, " he feels so strongly about this, he and several others are currently sug the ernor, the Department of Edutn, and others, to stop the law om beg orr to better unrstand where the le is between First Amendment rights and a school district's obligatns when to graduatn speech, we sat down wh Bay area lawyer Jonah Dickste—who is a member of the First Amendment Lawyers said the U. Dershem said the school also had an issue wh his graduatn attire, askg him to remove a gay pri flag draped over his graduatn gown, although he didn't ply. MARION, Oh — Public outrage ensued followg a Friday graduatn ceremony Oh where an alumni speaker nmned homosexual relatnships his mencement McGuire enuraged the graduat of River Valley High School to pursue the "Biblil prcipl" of only romantic relatnships between a man and a openg his speech by enuragg the graduat of the public school Oh's Marn County to spend time "learng God's word, " McGuire ma the followg ment about relatnships:"Choose a spoe, I suggt.

BYU VALEDICTORIAN OUT AS GAY VIRAL NVOTN SPEECH

Although River Valley High School has ma the vio of the graduatn ceremony private, the district ma public a full transcript of the speech along wh an official statement the admistratn origally sent as and email to graduatg senrs and their parents Florida:'Curly hair' be for gay Florida high school grad speech after senr says he was censored In the statement, the district clarifi that McGuire was speakg on his own acrd and not on behalf of the district. A Florida high school stunt who is openly gay is speakg out after he says he was subjected to censorship by school officials if he mentned the state’s “Parental Rights Edutn” law, also lled the “Don’t Say Gay” law by crics, his graduatn Moricz, a senr and the print of his graduatg class at Pe View School Osprey, Florida, claimed he was beg “silenced” a Twter thread two weeks ago. ”Moricz is also one of the youngt platiffs a lawsu filed agast the state of Florida over the “Parental Rights Edutn” 18-year-old told "Good Morng Ameri" he was worried ahead of the speech but felt supported by his fellow classmat and peers, some of whom wore “Say Gay” stickers and stood up and cheered durg his speech Sunday.

'I FELT LIKE CRYG': ANTI-GAY MENCEMENT SPEECH AT OH HIGH SCHOOL SPARKS OUTRAGE

"Edor’s PicksMoricz, an outspoken advote for LGBTQ rights, referred to his "curly hair" as a phemism for beg gay his speech. AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAt a universy where s honor explicly prohibs “homosexual behavr, ” Matt Easton’s very public g out was not whout risk. Valedictorian Announc He Is GayDurg his mencement speech, Matt Easton, a Brigham Young Universy valedictorian, told the dience that he was “proud to be a gay son of God.

SHOP SUAL WGIRL-SPIRED OUTFS FOR FALLOPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHNEWSFLORIDA HIGH SCHOOLER WHO SAYS HE WAS CENSORED GRADUATN SPEECH SPEAKS OUT7:19FLORIDA STUNT ALLEG HE WAS TOLD NOT TO MENTN ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ LAW BYNILE CURTIS AND LRA ZACROMAY 23, 2022, 11:34 AM•4 M READA FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL STUNT WHO IS OPENLY GAY IS SPEAKG OUT AFTER HE SAYS HE WAS SUBJECTED TO CENSORSHIP BY SCHOOL OFFICIALS IF HE MENTNED THE STATE’S “PARENTAL RIGHTS EDUTN” LAW, ALSO LLED THE “DON’T SAY GAY” LAW BY CRICS, HIS GRADUATN SPEECH.ZANR MORICZ, A SENR AND THE PRINT OF HIS GRADUATG CLASS AT PE VIEW SCHOOL OSPREY, FLORIDA, CLAIMED HE WAS BEG “SILENCED” A TWTER THREAD TWO WEEKS AGO. HE WROTE, “MY PRCIPAL LLED ME TO HIS OFFICE AND RMED ME THAT IF MY GRADUATN SPEECH REFERENCED MY ACTIVISM OR ROLE AS A PLATIFF THE LAWSU, SCHOOL ADMISTRATN HAD A SIGNAL TO CUT OFF MY MICROPHONE, END MY SPEECH, AND HALT THE CEREMONY.”MORICZ IS ALSO ONE OF THE YOUNGT PLATIFFS A LAWSU FILED AGAST THE STATE OF FLORIDA OVER THE “PARENTAL RIGHTS EDUTN” LAW.THE 18-YEAR-OLD TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI" HE WAS WORRIED AHEAD OF THE SPEECH BUT FELT SUPPORTED BY HIS FELLOW CLASSMAT AND PEERS, SOME OF WHOM WORE “SAY GAY” STICKERS AND STOOD UP AND CHEERED DURG HIS SPEECH SUNDAY.“THERE WAS A LOT OF HATE AND A LOT OF FEAR SURROUNDG THE SPEECH ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WERE GOG TO DO IF SOMEONE WAS GOG TO REACT POORLY BEE WAS REALLY PRENT THE MUNY -- THAT HATRED AND THAT FEAR -- AND SO I WAS WORRIED AND I KNEW THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL TO CUT THE MIC," HE TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI" MONDAY."TO HAVE A STANDG OVATN LIKE THAT AND A RPONSE LIKE THAT OM ALL OF THE PEOPLE WAS AMAZG,” HE SAID. "IT WAS REALLY A GREAT FALE FOR FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL."EDOR’S PICKSLAWSU FILED AGAST FLORIDA'S SO-LLED 'DON'T SAY GAY' LAW WH DAYS OF SIGNGMAR 31, 2022'WHAT PARENTS ARE THEY SUPPORTG?': MOMS SPEAK OUT AGAST 'DON'T SAY GAY' LAWMAR 30, 2022FLORIDA ERNOR SIGNS NTROVERSIAL 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL TO LAWMAR 28, 2022MORE: DO AMERINS SUPPORT FLORIDA'S NEW PARENTAL RIGHTS TN LAW?MORICZ, AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOTE FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS, REFERRED TO HIS "CURLY HAIR" AS A PHEMISM FOR BEG GAY HIS SPEECH.“THIS CHARACTERISTIC HAS PROBABLY BEE THE FIRST THG YOU THK OF WHEN YOU THK OF ME AS A HUMAN BEG. AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE CURLY HAIR,” MORICZ SAID HIS SPEECH.“THERE ARE GOG TO BE SO MANY KIDS WH CURLY HAIR WHO NEED A MUNY LIKE PE VIEW AND THEY WILL NOT HAVE ONE. INSTEAD, THEY’LL TRY TO FIX THEMSELV SO THAT THEY N EXIST FLORIDA’S HUMID CLIMATE,” HE NTUED.MORE: TEACHERS SPEAK OUT AS FLORIDA’S 'DON’T SAY GAY' BILL HEADS TO DESANTIS' SKSEEMG TO TRY TO WALK A FE LE BETWEEN FOLLOWG THE LAW AND ALLOWG MORICZ TO LIVER HIS SPEECH AS CLASS PRINT, PE VIEW SCHOOL APPROVED HIS PHEMISM-LAN REMARKS ADVANCE.IN A STATEMENT RELEASED BEFORE GRADUATN, THE SCHOOL SAID PART: “STUNTS ARE REMD THAT A GRADUATN SHOULD NOT BE A PLATFORM FOR PERSONAL POLIL STATEMENTS … SHOULD A STUNT VARY OM THIS EXPECTATN DURG THE GRADUATN, MAY BE NECSARY TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTN.”MORICZ SAID HAVG TO MODIFY HIS GRADUATN SPEECH WAS MORE THAN JT DISAPPOTG.“IT WAS A REALLY HUMANIZG CISN BEE I HAD TO TAKE SOMETHG I HAD WRTEN AND ... I HAD TO FD A WAY TO BE CLEVER TO DISCS WHO I WAS,” HE SAID. "BEE THE DISTRICT AFFIRMED THAT THEY SUPPORTED ACTN IF I BROUGHT UP THE LAWSU OR THE ADVOCY AROUND , I KNEW THAT THE THREAT TO CUT THE MIC WAS VERY REAL, SO I WASN'T GOG TO LET THAT HAPPEN AND I JT HAD TO BE CLEVER ABOUT . BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO BE BEE I DON'T EXIST A PHEMISM AND I SERVE TO BE CELEBRATED AS IS.”MORICZ’S ATTORNEY, ROBERTA KAPLAN, CLAIMS THE “PARENTAL RIGHTS EDUTN” LAW WAS WRTEN TO BE OVERLY BROAD AND OPEN-END ON PURPOSE.“ZANR WAS CENSORED AND HE SHOULDN’T HAVE HAD TO CENSOR HIMSELF AND NOT BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHO HE REALLY IS AT HIS MENCEMENT SPEECH," KAPLAN TOLD "GMA." “THIS IS JT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. THE LAW SELF WAS LIBERATELY WRTEN TO BE AS VAGUE AND AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE. SO WHAT YOU GET IS WHAT YOU SAW WH ZANR AND OBVLY APPLI TO MENCEMENT. WE SAW THAT JT YTERDAY, AND APPLI MANY, MANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANC.”MORICZ CREDS ONE OF HIS TEACHERS FOR HELPG HIM E OUT AS A YOUNG TEENAGER AND SAID THE LAW WOULD PREVENT OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE OM FEELG SAFE AND PROTECTED TO DO SO.“WHAT THIS LAW DO IS, EFFECTIVELY TAK AWAY THE ONLY GUARANTEED SAFE SPACE OM THE MAJORY OF THE ENTIRE LGBTQ POPULATN HERE," HE SAID. "THAT'S HORRIFYG BEE WHAT YOU THEN HAVE IS SO MANY CHILDREN BEG FORCED TO MAKE THE CHOICE BETWEEN G OUT UNSAFELY OR NOT G OUT AT ALL.”MORICZ SAID HE PLANS ON ADVOTG FOR THE LGBTQ+ MUNY AND IS STUDYG ERNMENT AT HARVARD UNIVERSY THE FALL."I'M GOG TO BE NCENTRATG ERNMENT SO I N TRY AND FIX THE SAME PROBLEMS I'M TRYG TO FIX NOW,” HE SAID.EDOR’S PICKSLAWSU FILED AGAST FLORIDA'S SO-LLED 'DON'T SAY GAY' LAW WH DAYS OF SIGNGMAR 31, 2022'WHAT PARENTS ARE THEY SUPPORTG?': MOMS SPEAK OUT AGAST 'DON'T SAY GAY' LAWMAR 30, 2022FLORIDA ERNOR SIGNS NTROVERSIAL 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL TO LAWMAR 28, 2022UP NEXT NEWS—FLORIDA WOMAN REVERG OM STGRAY ATTACK SHAR EXPERIENCE AFTER CLOSE LLAUGT 29, 2023SPANISH SOCCER STAR LEARNS OF FATHER'S ATH AFTER WNG WOMEN'S WORLD CUPAUGT 21, 2023UBER ANNOUNC DONATN TO SUPPORT MI FIRE RELIEFAUGT 17, 2023MI STRONG: CHARI TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT WILDFIRE RELIEF EFFORTSAUGT 17, 2023UP NEXT NEWS—FLORIDA WOMAN REVERG OM STGRAY ATTACK SHAR EXPERIENCE AFTER CLOSE LLAUGT 29, 2023SPANISH SOCCER STAR LEARNS OF FATHER'S ATH AFTER WNG WOMEN'S WORLD CUPAUGT 21, 2023UBER ANNOUNC DONATN TO SUPPORT MI FIRE RELIEFAUGT 17, 2023MI STRONG: CHARI TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT WILDFIRE RELIEF EFFORTSAUGT 17, 2023

” The universy’s honor prohibs “homosexual behavr.

As such, I stand before my fay, iends and graduatg class today, to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God.

IN COMMENCEMENT SPEECH, BRIGHAM YOUNG GRADUATE ‘PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD’

It is a phenomenal feelg, and is a victory for me and of his mencement speech, Matt Easton, a Brigham Young Universy valedictorian, told the dience that he was “proud to be a gay son of God. Marisa TafoyaAt a universy that nsirs same-sex marriage a “ser transgrsn, ” and where s honor explicly prohibs “homosexual behavr, ” Matt Easton’s very public g out was not whout Mr.

“I stand before my fay, iends and graduatg class today to say that I am proud to be a gay son of God, ” he said last Friday a mencement speech before 10, 000 people si the Marrtt Center Provo, Utah.

Easton’s claratn — imbued wh relig votn and a ll for social equaly — me as the church and Brigham Young are wrtlg wh how to rencile gay members of the Mormon fah. As a stunt, he was a member of s Polil Science Honors Society and acts as the Republin state legate for his home precct Cottonwood Heights, an terview Monday, he said he had always known he was gay. While the universy stat that “same-genr attractn is not an Honor Co issue, ” the policy prohibs — and punish — vlatns like immost attire, premaral sexual activy and homosexual behavr.