Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill has garnered international attention for its targeting of vulnerable young people in schools—places that are meant to provide a sense of safety and belonging. Join LGBTQ+ advocate Michael Womack and student activist Will Larkins to discuss the bill’s impacts on Florida’s LGBTQ+ youth, public schooling, and the legal battles ahead.
Wednesday, April 20, 12:30-1:30PM
WCC 3018
Takeaway Lunch Provided
RSVP here to help us order food.
*Please note our masking request below.
Michael Womack is the Communications Manager for Equality Florida, where he advances LGBTQ+ issues and progressive causes on the state and national level, including the fight against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Michael was named a 2021 Rising Star in Florida Politics Influence Magazine.
Will Larkins is a student leader and activist at Winter Park High School in Florida and organized the school’s “Say Gay Anyway” walkout. Will testified against the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee. Will received the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s Catherine Fahringer Student Activist Award for their essay about growing up queer published last month in the New York Times..
Alexander Chen is the Founding Director of the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic. Alexander’s work focuses on expanding the rights of LGBTQ+ people through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and direct representation at both the national and local levels. Among his numerous awards, he’s been named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Law and Policy, and one of the 40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by the National LGBT Bar Association.
Masking: There are members of our community who are particularly vulnerable to COVID. We do not want to put these members of our community at risk. Therefore, the CAP team will continue to wear masks at our events going forward, and we make a heartfelt request that you also continue to wear a mask. We will have meals for you to take away with you after the talk.
Co-sponsored by: Advocates for Education, American Constitution Society, Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, The Bell Collective, Child & Youth Advocates, Disability Law Students Association, La Alianza, LAMBDA, the LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic, the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative/Education Law Clinic, and the Women’s Law Association.