In a heart-wrenching Twitter thread explaining the danger behind Florida's "Don't Say Gay" legislation, a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub shooting drew public attention to the bill's inherent discrimination.
Brandon Wolf explained the harmful impact of demonizing conversations with LGBTQ+ youth about their sexual orientation and gender identity.
In his tweets, Wolf first shared his story of being outed at 17, kicked out of his church and forbidden from speaking with fellow students in his classes. He explained the dangerous epicenter of the rhetoric used against him was that he was "contagious."
See the full thread below:
Lemme tell you a story.\n\nI was outed at 17. A mom learned that I had a boyfriend & alerted anyone who\u2019d listen. She howled about my \u201ccorrupting influence\u201d & insisted that my gayness was contagious.\n\nPeers were pulled from my classes.\n\nOthers stopped showing up to practice. (1/8)— Brandon Wolf (@Brandon Wolf) 1648693396
People were barred from seeing me.
I was kicked out of church.
Shunned at home.
That year ended with parents protesting the school, demanding that rainbows come down — shrieking that kids like me posed a threat to their way of life.
I moved away and never came back. (2/8)
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) March 31, 2022
In his post, he wrote:
"A threat. Contagious. Dangerous."
"I didn’t know it at the time, but those same insinuations had been used to dehumanize & justify discrimination against LGBTQ people forever."
"They’re also the same insinuations fueling Don’t Say Gay legislation now."
A threat. Contagious. Dangerous.
I didn’t know it at the time, but those same insinuations had been used to dehumanize & justify discrimination against LGBTQ people forever.
They’re also the same insinuations fueling Don’t Say Gay legislation now. (3/8)
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) March 31, 2022
He continued:
“Accusations of a sinister plot by LGBTQ people to indoctrinate and corrupt aren’t new―they’re the oldest trope in the book.”
“Bigots lobbed them while they tried to ban us from being teachers, serving our country, getting married, adopting children, and using the bathroom ... And those tired accusations are being wielded as weapons once again.”
Accusations of a sinister plot by LGBTQ people to indoctrinate and corrupt aren’t new — they’re the oldest trope in the book.
Bigots lobbed them while they tried to ban us from being teachers, serving our country, getting married, adopting children, and using the bathroom. (4/8)
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) March 31, 2022
Yet the Senator who filed it admitted his goal: to put a stop to the number of young people who feel comfortable enough to be themselves at a young age. To censor speech about LGBTQ people in an effort to force people to stay in the closet.
To erase us. (6/8)
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) March 31, 2022
Wolf wrote:
“So let me say what I wish *anyone* had the courage to tell me when I was labeled a dangerous, 17 year old contagion: LGBTQ people are a normal, healthy part of society who deserve to be valued and seen."
"That’s what we’re fighting for. And I won’t apologize for it.”
So let me say what I wish *anyone* had the courage to tell me when I was labeled a dangerous, 17 year old contagion: LGBTQ people are a normal, healthy part of society who deserve to be valued and seen.
That’s what we’re fighting for. And I won’t apologize for it. (7/8)
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) March 31, 2022
Power hungry politicians & anti-LGBTQ activists will hurl tired bigotry drenched in a 2022 coat of paint.
And we’ll keep doing what’s right: defending the dignity of all families and fighting for a future where every kid feels seen & loved — exactly as they are. (8/8)
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) March 31, 2022
In 2016, the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida was the scene of the second worst mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history and the second deadliest terrorist attack in the U.S. since 9/11. Wolf argued the war waged against LGBTQ+ people carries on with this bill.
Many parents and advocates agree.
On Thursday, a joint federal lawsuit was filed against the state of Florida over the new law, signed into effect last week. The plaintiffs are families of Florida school children and a number of advocacy groups who allege the law is unconstitutional.
The complaint was filed on behalf of, among other groups, Equity Florida of which Wolf is Press Secretary.
Supporters flocked to Wolf's post with compassion.
I\u2019m so sorry for what you\u2019ve had to endure just to live and love how you choose. I wish you a lifetime of blessings.— Lisa M Rodgers (@Lisa M Rodgers) 1648695405
Brandon, I am heartbroken to read your story. When my brother came out as gay he was still my brother and he was still the son of my parents. Nothing changed. What happened to you, speaking as a parent, is simply unfathomable. We don't erase people, we embrace them.— Dave Perrino - Standing for Democracy.\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Dave Perrino - Standing for Democracy.\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1648743163
One person shared:
"Powerful, Brandon. Thank you for sharing your experiences."
"It is an atrocious law, like so many passed by the Florida Legislature and championed by the unscrupulous man we call 'governor.'"
Powerful, Brandon. Thank you for sharing your experiences. It is an atrocious law, like so many passed by the Florida Legislature and championed by the unscrupulous man we call "governor."— Snarky Lawyer (@Snarky Lawyer) 1648695763
Many related to Wolf's story, sharing their own similar ones.
I am so sorry. At 68, I\u2019m wondering what the heck happened to our nation. How did we go from the 60s liberalism to legalizing bigotry?— Rigel Dyess Hall (@Rigel Dyess Hall) 1648697144
One person shared:
"I was out at 16. Kicked out."
"My parents told all of my friend's parents. I had nowhere to go. I wasn’t welcome anywhere anymore."
"Ended up at a group home for homeless boys. It was a long and rough road."
"I wouldn’t wish that on anyone."
I was out at 16. Kicked out. My parents told all of my friends parents. I had no where to go. I wasn\u2019t welcome anywhere anymore. Ended up at a group home for homeless boys. It was a long and rough road. I wouldn\u2019t wish that on anyone.— The Handlebar Gamer (@The Handlebar Gamer) 1648755127
The ramifications of this law are still being found.
Educators are already saying they will refrain from even referencing LGBTQ+ language, references or concepts, fearing they will face repercussions from the state if they do.