Trovillion's
Tirade of Intolerance & Hate
They were speaking
with Florida's legislators seeking support for the Florida Dignity for all
Students Act. It's purpose end discrimination based on sexual orientation in schools. The teens were invited by Rep.
Allen Trovillion to meet with him in his office. The teens spoke briefly on the
proposed legislation. When he suddenly lashed into a homophobic tirade of
intolerance, ridicule, humillition and religious condemnation. His ambush
shocked
them totally.
Continuing to spew his venomous anti-gay diatribe in such
a cruel, mean and dehumanizing manner. It had caused such distress a few
students broke into tears as they exited his office. The gay teens were perfect
victims for Trovillion's cold hearted, and premeditated homophobic attack. As
news of Trovillion's most horrific treatment of our gay teens spread.
Activist
mobilized and sent out
Action Alerts, the community, both gay and straight mobilized. Then came our
turn to share our opinion
with Trovillion and other Lawmakers on this reprehensible behavior directed at
our gay teen activists.
Tampa Bay
Coalition Against Hate~Violence supports Florida Equality and sent a strongly
worded message to Rep. Allen
Trovillion and copies to Governor Jeb Bush, to FL Sen. Bob Graham and Rep. Tom
Sweeney, FL House Speaker. We sent a second
message directly
to our Florida
Governor Jeb Bush, in case the eariler CC: messages get lost. We issued a call
to action to our membership, supporters and through a national press
release. We asked all to
contact Governor Bush, FL Lawmakers and or U.S Lawmakers
as many as possible, to condemn Rep. Trovillion for his despicable treatment of
our gay teens and the remarks he made regarding all Gays and Lesbians.
Equality sent out
a Press
Release calling for the
comdemnation of Rep.Trovillia and asking community support by contacting
Governor Jeb Bush. They released a joint Press
Release with
GLSEN.
April 12th.,
2001
*Human Rights
Campaign Press Release: To Florida
Lawmakers and DNC Chairman. The Human Rights
Campaign press release Questions the Florida
Lawmakers Treatment of Gay Students.
*Two of Florida's
Democratic Lawmakers released statements, Rep. Robert Wexler
and
Rep. Peter
Deutsch, that condemn
Rep. Torvillion and apologize to the Gay Students on behalf of the shocked members of the assembly.
*Democratic
National Committee [DNC] Chairman Terry
McAuliffe released this statement on Trovillion
anti-gay remarks
Reaction to
Trovillion Anti-Gay Sermon.
April 11th. &
12th., 2001
The Data Lounge
Articles:
"Lawmaker in
Florida Rails Against Gay
Teens".
April 10th. &
13th., 2001
Gay.com Articles;
"Report:
Legislator tells gay students God will destroy them".
"Activists
Denounce the Flordia
Lawmakers Anti-Gay Speech".
The Washington
Post
Related Articles"
Gay Teen Abuse at School, Protecting Gay Teens and Programs do
Help.
"Where
Homophobia Does Most
Harm". High school abuse
of gay students.
"Task
Force Findings." Gay
youth should be protected in California schools. Miami Herald
"Diversity
Flourishes in Seattle Young
Peoples Project and Queer Youth Rights Project". If it
can work in
Seattle, we can help gay teens make it happen. GL Connection
Resources:
Organizations:
Human Rights
Campaign ~ Link.
Online News
Services:
Gay Standard GL
Connection ~Link.
Miami Herald ~
miami.com/gay/ ~ Link.
The Washington
Post ~ Link.
The St. Petersburg
Times ~ Link.
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