On April 12th, The Human Rights Campaign sent out an Action Alert urging
people to contact Florida State Rep. Allen Trovillion, R-Winter Park, after
he berated and humiliated recently graduated lesbian and gay students that
he welcomed into his office on Monday. The lawmaker’s behavior illustrates
why the state legislature should pass the Florida Dignity for All Students
Act, which would extend Florida’s anti-discrimination laws in schools to
include sexual orientation and gender identity, says HRC.
“These young men and women went in for a lesson in civics and got a
lesson in incivility,” said HRC Field Director Seth Kilbourn. “When students
can’t feel safe in the state house, how can we expect them to feel safe in
the schools? Good people can find a way to disagree without having to resort
to threats and name-calling. We urge Trovillion to apologize for his remarks
because no student should feel threatened or intimidated by their
representative.”
“Representative Trovillion has disgraced and embarrassed the Florida
legislature by callously dismissing the painful experiences of these
students,” said Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith. “We call
on the governor, Trovillion’s colleagues in the Legislature and all fair
minded Floridians to stand with students who are striving to make our
schools safe.”
On Monday, Trovillion welcomed several Orlando-area high school students to
his office who were taking part in Equality Florida Youth Lobby Day 2001, an
event to promote awareness of the discrimination faced by students on
campus. The students went to offer their viewpoints on the challenges they
faced as young gay men and women in Florida’s schools. While there, the
lawmaker launched into a shockingly mean-spirited Jeremiad, vituperating
against the young constituents.
“I don’t understand why the gay population is becoming so vocal,”
Trovillion said. “You are going to cause the downfall of this country that
was built on Christian principles. You’re throwing your life away. I’m
against discrimination, but I’m opposed to this. God is going to destroy
you.”
According to the Tampa Tribune, the meeting left 17-year-old Chris Vasquez
in tears.
Vasquez, an honors student and editor in chief of Edgewater High School’s
campus newspaper, thanked Trovillion for his time but was stunned as he left
the lawmaker’s office.
“Trovillion is entitled to his religious beliefs and should be free to
express them,” said Kilbourn. “However, we question his judgment in treating
these students in such a hostile manner.”
Trovillion can be contacted at:
Phone: 850-488-0660
Fax: 407-623-1357
E-mail: trovillion.allen@leg.state.fl.us
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