PAGE 16 T Q-Notes ▼ April 28, 2001
Florida legislator tells GLBT students, ^^God is going to destroy you.”
by Brian Winfield
Special to Q-Notes
TALLAHASSEE — “God destroyed Sodom
and Gomorrah, and he is going to destroy you
and a lot of others.” Through a fire of homopho
bic comments, Florida state Rep. Allen Trovillion
(R-Winter Park) embarrassed the Florida legis
lature on April 9 when he unleashed a personal
tirade against Orlando students who visited him
seeking help to end school-based harassment and
violence.
Trovillion welcomed several Orlando-area
high school students into his office who were tak
ing part in Equality Florida Youth Lobby Day
2001, an event to promote awareness of the dis
crimination faced by students on campus. The
students went to offer their viewpoints on the
challenges they faced and their individual stories
about the frequency of anti-gay violence in Florida
schools. While there, the lawmaker launched into
a shockingly mean-spirited lecture, railing against
the young constituents. One of the students, 17-
year-old Chris Vasquez, was left in tears by
Trovillion’s remarks.
“He [Trovillion] is one of the people we’re sup
posed to look up to for moral guidance and sup
port,” Vasquez said. “He’s spouting ideas that only
make the world more dangerous for gay youth.”
Statistics from national and state studies al
ready paint a grim picture of life for sexual mi
nority youth in schools. A nationwide report re
leased by the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education
Network (GLSEN) in 1999 revealed three out of
four sexual minority youth report verbal, sexual
or physical harassment on their school campus.
Similar reports show that those students who are,
or perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender are four times more likely to be in
jured or threatened with a weapon on school
grounds.
Thomas Gentile, a 19-year-oId youth from
Boca Raton, told Trovillion that classmates tar-
TteBeSt shouldrt
D0 reserved for just
those WltO purchase
IvffllimDollM
Homes.
Memtt Homes
we dont think so
either!
With subdivisions from the 90s to the 160s, come see why
Merritt Homes is an apple in a sea of oranges! ’
Don't you deserve
the best?
(704) 596-1200
www.merritthomes.com
geted him because of his sexual orientation.
School administrators suspended the attackers for
only one day, then humiliated Gentile by sug
gesting he provoked the violence by being “too
openly gay.” Despite a nationwide call for addi
tional security and safety on school campuses.
Rep. Trovillion told Gentile, “You have to suffer
the consequences of your actions.”
Vasquez, a member of Orlando’s Gay and Les
bian Idea Exchange for Youth (GALIXY), re
sponded to the incident, “Ironically, Trovillion’s
comments only prove our point that discrimina
tion against sexual minority youth is still ram
pant in our state...sexual minority youth need
protection from harassment in their schools.” A
recent school climate survey in Pinellas County
[St. Petersburg area] revealed that sexual minor
ity youth were four times more likely than their
straight peers to skip school because they feared
for their safety. The survey also showed that 63
percent of the Pinellas smdents hear anti-gay com
ments more than twice a day
“I don’t understand why the gay population is
becoming so vocal,” Trovillion questioned. “You
are going to cause the downfall of this country
which was built on Christian principals.”
Human rights leaders in the state and across
the nation expressed outrage upon hearing of
Trovillion’s remarks. Equality Florida Executive
Direaor Nadine Smith expressed her disappoint
ment and urged the Florida Legislature to take
action.
“Representative Trovillion has disgraced and
embarrassed the Florida Legislature by callously
dismissing the painful experiences of these stu
dents, “ said 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.”
Brenda Barron, Southern Field Organizer
for GLSEN, who participated in the Youth
Lobby Day events, said, “GLSEN is appalled
by Rep. Trovillion’s use of his bully pulpit to
intimidate LGBT youth. LGBT young people
face this kind of discrimination in schools ev^
eryday This incident underscores the desper
ate need to ensure that every student has equal
access to education and a safe learning envi
ronment, free of verbal harassment, physical
violence and intimidation.” ▼
' ' r '
■ A'.:
. , '. j: ■
ITS HBIE
IN TIME ^
HOTTEST
&sm
ToU^te
EXPERIENC^E
i,;-'
NORMAN RUSSELL
SALON & SPA
CALL FOR GIFT CERTIRCATES
MAJOR CREDIT CARDS WELCOME
1520 south boulevard park avenue buUng 704-332-6772 www.NormanRussel.oom
It’s time to stop atuCsnteCCtfie roses....
Ik.
...andtfierre}(as 'BCue (Bomiets,
fresh herds, 'dtimahiyan Stveet6o7(....
OutCharlotte's 4th annual
WS
I (Rain or Shine)
lOam-^m Home &J[^a{^en lOur
>m Ga(lSfe\i
Jrtttujrihg the gi
^ Xanie Adams
Dr. John
Bob & K
e Brant
:an Ickes
:ott Toney
chneider
y
Advancc(ti^e^ $10 Tour;
$22 Tour p/^rty; $12 Party
Day of even^yckets: $15 Tour;
$25 Tour SyTarty; $15 Party
Advan^ickets available at
Paper Skyscraper, Royal Gardens,
White Rabbit Books & Things,
or call OutCharlotte
704.563.2699
\-,aVW,
'.o itcharknro