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Organizer of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Walk Says He Was Suspended For Playing the Pride Flag


A junior student at Flagler Palm Coast High School was kicked out of the school Thursday, escorted off campus, after organizing a walkout to protest the so-called Don’t Say Gay bill . media at his school and it went viral across the state. Now he is consulting a lawyer at home.WESH 2 spoke to Jack Petocz on the phone. Currently, based on possible legal action, he has been asked not to do interviews but we have previously done stories with Petocz. Petocz, an openly gay student told us why he opposes House Bill 1557, nicknamed the Don’t Say Gay Bill. It prohibits discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-3 and restricts discussions in other grades. “Students may feel more comfortable at school. I know that I did,” says Petocz. In protest, Petocz promoted the school’s protests and walks on social media and said administrators at Flagler Palm Coast High School agreed for him. He shared pictures of the rally with the participation of hundreds of students, many waving Pride flags. That’s when everything changed, Petocz wrote in a statement. He said that administrators have begun confiscating the flags but he “encourages my students not to give in to the school’s unconstitutional seizure.” After the protest, Petocz said he was suspended even though the district called it “administratively removed.” School district spokesman Jason Wheeler said some behaviors, including waving flags that may offend others, violated the school’s code of conduct. “That is unacceptable. A Petocz spokesperson said the actions of Petocz and others are currently being reviewed. ‘don’t stay silent and take pride in what has taken place at personal expense.

A high school student at Flagler Palm Coast High School was kicked out of the school Thursday, escorted off campus, after organizing a walkout to protest the so-called Don’t Say Gay bill.

Jack Petocz, 17, promoted a walk and protest on social media at his school and it went viral across the state. Now he is consulting a lawyer at home.

WESH 2 spoke to Jack Petocz on the phone. Currently, based on possible legal action, he has been asked not to do interviews but we have previously done stories with Petocz. Most recently, a week ago.

“It’s limiting the safe space at school,” says Petocz.

Petocz, an openly gay student, tells us why he opposes House Bill 1557, nicknamed the Don’t Say Gay Bill. It prohibits discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-3 and restricts discussions in other grades.

“Students may feel more comfortable at school. I know that I used to be,” says Petocz.

In protest, Petocz promoted school rallies and walks on social media and said administrators at Flagler Palm Coast High School agreed to him. He shared pictures of the rally with the participation of hundreds of students, many waving Pride flags. That’s when everything changed, Petocz wrote in a statement. He said that administrators started confiscating the flags but he “encouraged my students not to give in to the school’s unconstitutional seizure.”

After the protest, Petocz said he was suspended even though the school district called it “administratively removed.” School district spokesman Jason Wheeler said some behavior, including waving flags that may offend others, violated the school’s code of conduct.

“That is unacceptable. They were told not to do certain things and they went ahead and did it in the face of warnings,” Whiler said.

The spokesman said the actions of Petocz and those of others are currently being reviewed.

Petocz told us he has never been disciplined before but will not stay silent and is proud of what has taken place despite the personal costs.



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