Florida student was banned from saying 'gay' in graduation speech — so he talked about 'curly hair' instead

Despite the progress in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, complete acceptance is still a goal to achieve. For example, back in 2022, a Florida high school class president, Zander Moricz (@zandermoricz) was asked not to talk about his experiences as a gay student during his graduation speech. He was also not allowed to discuss the impact of the state's "Don't Say Gay" law on his peers. However, he smartly highlighted this problem by discussing his "curly hair," which was another distinctive feature. This unexpected gesture captivated the audience and brought attention to the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, as reported by The Washington Post.

A video uploaded by Matt (@mattxiv on X) had millions of views, where Moricz of Pine View School in Osprey, Florida, said, "I must discuss a very public part of my identity. This characteristic has probably become the first thing you think of me as a human being. As you know, I have curly hair." The class president then surprised everyone by removing his cap, revealing his stunning, voluminous hair. As soon as he did that, the crowd present there erupted with cheers. He added, "I used to hate my curls. I spend mornings and nights embarrassed of them, trying desperately to straighten this part of who I am. But the daily damage of trying to fix myself became too much to do."

"So, while having curly hair in the state of Florida can be difficult, due to the humidity, I decided to be proud of who I was, and started coming to school as my authentic self,” he further shared in the video. Moricz thanked Miss Ballard, a teacher who had been there for him when he felt isolated, answering his questions when he had no one else to relate to. He emphasized the major role an inclusive community plays in gaining self-identity and confidence. Wrapping up his speech, he remarked on how crucial it was for him to speak up—so other "curly-haired" students wouldn't fall into the trap of trying to tame their natural curls in Florida's humid climate.

For the LGBTQ community, code words have sadly become a familiar tool in navigating societal challenges. While Moricz cleverly played with words in his speech, the experience left him feeling stripped of his humanity. Fortunately, his words sparked an outpouring of support from his peers, resulting in a standing ovation. Moricz also shared that his school’s principal had threatened to cut his microphone during graduation if he mentioned his activism. As reported by The Independent, he said, "I am the first openly gay Class President in my school's history–this censorship seems to show that they want me to be the last. This threat is not the first that I have received from the administration about my queer rights."

This incident left Moricz feeling deeply frustrated. Aware that the threat to silence him was real, he was determined not to let it happen to others like him. He also highlighted how Florida's laws were designed to make schools unsafe for LGBTQ+ students. On the other hand, Pine View School reportedly reminded students in a statement that graduation was not a time for making personal political comments. They further cautioned that any deviation from this rule might lead to the necessary consequences, per the outlet.