1 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: Good morning, peepsend. Welcome to wika EPI Daily with Meet 2 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: Your Girl Danielle Moody. Recording from the Brooklyn Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: I'm very excited about today's show. We did a supersize 4 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: special on the terrible Don't Say Gay legislation that is 5 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: coming out of Florida, that is being sanctioned by Governor Disantess, 6 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 1: and so I wanted to take this time to sit 7 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: down and talk with a couple of people on different sides, 8 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: not on different sides of the issues this, it's not 9 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: on both sides, but folks coming at it from the 10 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: family aspect, from the legal aspect, from the teacher aspect, 11 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: so that we can understand the full picture of the 12 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: assault that the right wing has on our education system 13 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: and our public schooling and why why people should should 14 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: be up in arms about it. So coming up in 15 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 1: my conversation today is Stacy Stevenson, who is the CEO 16 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: of Family Equality and LGBTQ organization that works to ensure 17 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: that LGBTQ people can create the kind of families that 18 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: they want and that they have the support and a 19 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 1: community and a network that allows them to do so. 20 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: Also coming up in today's conversation is Frederick Ingram, who 21 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: is Secretary Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers and 22 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: was formerly the head of Florida's AFT. And then finally 23 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: we will have a conversation with Carl Charles, who is 24 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: staff attorney at lambed Illegal, the LGBTQ legal outlet that 25 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: has been fighting these battles for decades. That is the 26 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: show today, folks, and I hope that you enjoy, folks. 27 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: I am so excited to welcome to woke F Daily 28 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: the CEO, president, executive director, the boss Lady in charge 29 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: of Family Equality, Stacy Stevenson, to join us to talk 30 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: about really the horrific, horrific attacks that we are seeing 31 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: once again waged against LGBTQ youth and their families, particularly folks. 32 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: You know that I have been talking about what Governor 33 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 1: DeSantis has been doing in Florida, what's being copycatted in 34 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:34,959 Speaker 1: Texas and around the Red state. Stacy, welcome to woke F. 35 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: Tell us a little bit before we jump into what's 36 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: happening in Florida about what it is that Family Equality does. Yeah, 37 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:50,399 Speaker 1: absolutely so, Family Equality. We are a nonprofit and we've 38 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:54,839 Speaker 1: been in existence since nineteen seventy nine. And really our 39 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: mission is to ensure that LGBTQ folks who want to 40 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: have children can do so, and people who have children 41 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: and families after you've weathered foster or adopted, that you 42 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: can actually sustain your family. So, in a nutshell, our 43 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: mission is to fight for lived in legal quality for 44 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: LGBTQ families and future LGBTQ families. And you know, but oh, police, 45 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: go ahead, and I was going to say it. And 46 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: we do that in a myriad of ways. And when 47 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: we work with the administration, and we work with policy 48 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: issues on the state and federal level, we connect families 49 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: basically because community is really important as well, and we 50 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: provide education and programming too. And then storytelling is a 51 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: core competency of ours, and I think we all know 52 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: that storytelling is one of those methods that can help 53 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: change hearts and minds. So we really do a lot 54 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: of storytellings where we show the real impact of what's 55 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: going on here, but also humanizing LGBTQ plus families because 56 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: oftentimes people don't see our families modeled in the media 57 00:03:55,160 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: at large. You know, Stacy, I have worked, as folks know, 58 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: in and around LGBTQ politics and policy for most of 59 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 1: my career. And you know, I was hearkening earlier this week, 60 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: earlier last week into remembering the rash of suicides at 61 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: the beginning of two thousand, of the two thousands, the 62 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: rash of suicides of LGBTQ youth who were being bullied 63 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: in schools. And then I reminded folks about the response 64 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: that the Obama administration had in terms of making sure 65 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: that our public schools, our charter schools, were safe for lgbtquth, 66 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 1: that they were equitable, that trans youth had access right 67 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: to the bathrooms that they felt most comfortable using, and 68 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: that they felt they were able to learn free of harm. Well, 69 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: we are seeing a total and complete reversal of that. 70 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 1: And I want to get your initial reactions to this, 71 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: don't say gay legislation that just flew through, you know, 72 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: the Florida legislature, which we know is control of Republican controlled. 73 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: What were your initial reactions to that? Well, disappointment, obviously 74 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: from a couple of perspectives. So number one, I was 75 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: one of those LGBTQ plus youths in high school and 76 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: middle school who was struggling to find my way and 77 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: to find support. And I remember when I came out 78 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: or actually got pulled out of the closet at sixteen 79 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: or seventeen, and I remember distinctly because I couldn't get 80 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: support in my peer groups. I remember feeling so desperate. 81 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: I went to one of the administrators I think it 82 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: was a principle, and I wanted to talk with her 83 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: about what was going on, and she just refused to 84 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: talk with me. Now that was not based on any 85 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 1: law or anything like that. This was in the nineties. 86 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: But think about that when this was just her set, 87 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: and if this is going to be built into laws, 88 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: then what's going to be the impact. There's a true 89 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: human impact here to these kids, and so I just 90 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: remember how horrible that felt. And I was absolutely thinking 91 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: about taking my own life and didn't want to be 92 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: here anymore because I didn't have the supported home, I 93 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: didn't have the supported school. And I remember when of 94 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: the administrators telling me, how would you ever know that 95 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: you were gay? You're too young to even feel this way. 96 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: So then that messaging right is also damaging. The other 97 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: perspective is from a parent perspective. So I'm a mother 98 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 1: of two seven year old twin boys, thank you, And 99 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 1: they have two moms. And we live here in Texas 100 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: and our boys are often advocates for themselves in their classrooms. 101 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: They're often correcting teachers about I have two moms, I 102 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: don't have a mom and a dad. And so far 103 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: some of the teachers have been receptive to Okay, London 104 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: has two moms, Duke has two moms. But what if 105 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 1: that's taken away from them? Yeah, what if the teachers 106 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: can't tell the students that London and Duke have a 107 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: different family structure, And what if London to do are 108 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: silence or other kids in Florida are silence about not 109 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: only themselves but their families. And so there is a 110 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: true human impact that I don't think that the politicians 111 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: are thinking about. They're not thinking about that, and it's 112 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: going to be harm harmful, very harmful to our children 113 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: and their families. You know. I don't want to say 114 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: that they're not thinking about it. I just don't think 115 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: they care, you know, like that, I mean, that's that's 116 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: the truth of the matter, is that they don't care. 117 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: I think that, you know, in in this current political climate, 118 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: the radical right would be happy for us to go 119 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: back into the closet and to be punished, right for 120 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: our desire to be out and proud, right, And you 121 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: know when you talk about the human impact and thank 122 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: you so much for sharing, you know a part of 123 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: your own story. Do you how do we tell this story, Stacy? 124 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: How do we get out our own types of campaigns 125 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: so people understand that, regardless of whether they themselves are 126 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: queer or children come from a queer background, that this 127 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: type of trauma that we are placing on young people 128 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: in schools, this is just the beginning. Tennessee just passed 129 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: legislation where they don't want to talk about the Holocaust 130 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: and they're taking those books off the shelf. So, you know, 131 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: how do we wage this campaign? How do we have 132 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: these conversations so people get what is going on here? Yeah, 133 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: it's interesting, and you know to your point that they 134 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: don't care. That's an even you know, larger issue, right, 135 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,319 Speaker 1: And some think that this has been used as a 136 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: wedge issue, right, so for political gain, and so maybe 137 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: that's exactly what it is. But in terms of how 138 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: do we tell this story, how do we you know, 139 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: sort of create this campaign? I think again it's talking 140 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: about the human impact of this. I mean, that's I 141 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: think for those people who do care, and I think 142 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: there are people who do care who may not understand 143 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: what is going on. I think that we have to 144 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: be very clear and the un tell the ugly truth 145 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: about the human impact. So there was a survey released 146 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: by the Trevor Project in twenty twenty one about the 147 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: human impact right and the forty two percent of LGBTQ 148 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: plus youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. 149 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 1: That was from twenty twenty one. You know, half of 150 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: all LGBTQ plus youth of color reported discrimination based on 151 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: their Wraith ethnicity in the past year. I think showing 152 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: statistics number one is one thing, and I think also 153 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: telling the story in the way that this is damaging, 154 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: this is going to lead. As Shaston said, I think 155 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: in the tweet after this was actually reported, that this 156 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: is going to kill kids. And I don't think that 157 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: we have to twe should shy away from that. It's 158 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: an ugly truth. But the fact of the matter is 159 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: that it is. It is going to it absolutely is, 160 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 1: and so there is a real risk here of us 161 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: losing more youth and as you mentioned, going backwards and 162 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: going back into the days then when I when I 163 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: came out where we saw more students like us, all 164 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: suicides at my school happen. Um. We got to tell 165 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: the impact, We got to show the numbers, um, and 166 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: we got to be loud about it. What will family 167 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:31,319 Speaker 1: equality as you begin, you know, you've been in this 168 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: position now as a newly executive director for you know, 169 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: close to a year. You're coming in at a really 170 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 1: precarious time, and you know, in our society, what are 171 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: some of the things that you have up on your 172 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: agenda for family equality in dealing with this and then 173 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: other issues that you all tackle on a day to 174 00:10:55,559 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: day basis. Yeah, you know, we are putting a very 175 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: distinct focus on what we call our schools work. We 176 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: know that there are opportunities and lots of opportunities to 177 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,439 Speaker 1: protect our kids and our families in schools, and so 178 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: we are doing that. So we're working closely with our 179 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 1: partners like and Glisten and with the administration to ensure 180 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: that children, for example, who have LGBTQ plus parents or 181 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: family members are protected at school under specific laws. So 182 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: those are one of the things that are on our agenda. 183 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,599 Speaker 1: Our policy folks are engaged into some state coalition to 184 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: working with our national partners to fight some of these bills, 185 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,839 Speaker 1: the Don't Say Gay bill, book bands, curriculum bands, all 186 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 1: those attempts to erase our history. We're starting to work 187 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: in coalition with people and to use families, Family Equalities Voice, 188 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: to have a seat at the table from a family perspective, 189 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: to show the impact of family, and I think from 190 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: a larger perspective. You know, our work is really around 191 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: ensuring that GBTQ plus people can actually create their families 192 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:04,719 Speaker 1: and as I mentioned early, can sustain their families. So 193 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: larger legislation like the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a 194 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: Family Act is something that has been on our agendas, 195 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: our flagship legislation, and we're going to continue to push 196 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 1: that and then our efforts to get the Equality Act pass, 197 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: which will provide explicit protections for LGBTQ plus families and 198 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: some protections to protect children's and children in schools. Last 199 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 1: question for you, Stacy, because the times are so precarious, 200 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 1: because you are raising young kids in you know, young 201 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: black boys in a red state. You know, you know 202 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: firsthand about the challenges that we are facing. How do 203 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: you hold on to hope in this moment and inspire 204 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: other people, other families, to believe that we can move 205 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:05,959 Speaker 1: past this really dark moment. It's a great question. One 206 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: of the things I'll say is that I'll be honest 207 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: that it's not always easy to hold onto hope. So 208 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: I don't want to paint this rosy picture, because it 209 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 1: does get rough, Danielle, It absolutely does. At the same time, 210 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: I have these moments with my kids and my family, 211 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: and I think back to being a young LGBTQ plus 212 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: person who was told that I would never have a family, 213 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: that we as a collective would never have a family, 214 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 1: that those rights would never be given to us, that 215 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: marriage would never be given to us. And I look 216 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: back and I see where we are now, and so 217 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: I think what I what I try to do, especially 218 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: in the seat that I'm sitting in now, is to 219 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: look at those those hard won rights that we that 220 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: we did get, like marriage, like the Bostock decision, you know, 221 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: some of the decisions that we've seen where we actually 222 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: can foster and adopt children. To look at the winds 223 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: and to look that we have had some progress, and 224 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: then to lean on that and to know that we've 225 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: been at these dark times before, and I believe that 226 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:08,079 Speaker 1: we will we will get through them. And we know 227 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: in terms of just LGBTQ plus equality that the majority 228 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: of Americans actually support you know, anti discrimination, you know, 229 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: and so we know that we have lots of support. 230 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 1: It's just really kind of working through and working through 231 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: some of these wedge issues that the politicians are trying 232 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: to throw at us. Well. I can't thank you enough 233 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: for the work that you do, for making the time 234 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: to join willk F, and hopefully you will come back 235 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: and talk to us more about where family equality is, 236 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: the work that it's doing, and also how we can 237 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: continue to be involved for those volks that do want 238 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: to be involved in this moment. Absolutely, thank you for 239 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: having me, Daniel, appreciate you, folks. I am very happy 240 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: to be joined today by Frederick Ingram, who is the 241 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: secretary treasurer of the the American Federation of Teachers and 242 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: formally the president of the Florida Education Association. Frederick, thank 243 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: you for making the time to join wike a F today. 244 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: You know your state of Florida, My goodness, does Governor 245 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: de Santis want to keep his name in everyone's mouth 246 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: for all the wrong reasons, has been championing legislation that 247 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: would have LGBTQ people essentially erased from discussions, from curriculum, 248 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: from the history books. Can you tell us a bit 249 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: about what you are seeing and hearing from teachers on 250 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: the ground in Florida about these moves that this governor 251 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: is making and what we know will most likely be 252 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: copycatted around other Republican run states. Sure, you know, thank 253 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: you for having me. And it's a sense state of 254 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: affairs as it relates to Governor de Santis and his 255 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: lack of leadership in Florida, his his his his inability 256 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: to bring people together, his intent on divisive type policies 257 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: and legislative agenda that he has for the state of Florida. 258 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: This is just one of the many bad bills that 259 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: he's proffered over the last year since he's been governor 260 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: of State of Florida. I'm sorry, the last two years 261 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: that since he's been governor of State of Florida. And 262 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: you know, we've seen anti woke bills, whatever that means. 263 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: We've seen bills that try to step on the feet 264 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: of people who are have the freedom of assembly, which 265 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: is directly after the George Floyd bill. They had an 266 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: Anti Riot Act, and he's had the anti trans bill 267 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: where you're banning trans kids from trying to participate in 268 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: sports in our public schools. And this is just one 269 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: of the many where he's trying to demean and he 270 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: is trying to push down our LGBTQUH students and those 271 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:15,479 Speaker 1: who identify with lg LGBTQUH. You know, the community, yeah, right, right, 272 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: the community and so so so it's just it's a 273 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: it's a tragedy what's happening in the state of Florida. 274 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: And what we know that this governor is trying to 275 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,959 Speaker 1: do is position himself to run president, and unfortunately he 276 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 1: is pulling the worst of the rights and conservative thoughts 277 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,399 Speaker 1: h to for people because we believe that he's running 278 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 1: squarely against President Trump, who lives in Florida, and we 279 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: believe that he has to keep pushing to the right 280 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 1: so that he can stay to the right of the 281 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: governor in Texas and Georgia, where we're seeing other bad 282 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: bills that are being, like you said, copycattered all over 283 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: this country, inclusive of of voting rights bills. So it's 284 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,880 Speaker 1: all h We believe that we're the incubator for all 285 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,719 Speaker 1: things bad right now as it relates to legislation. But 286 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: you know, we're fighting back, you know, so Frederick talked 287 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,360 Speaker 1: to me. You know, I am a former teacher, former educator, 288 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: and I taught first and second grade elementary school in Washington, 289 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 1: DC before I would make my way into policy work 290 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 1: and then to New York where I am now. And 291 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: I will tell you that of the many positions that 292 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 1: I have had, teaching was one of the hardest that 293 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:29,159 Speaker 1: I've ever done. And every day that I see what 294 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: we are putting our teachers through, whether it be series 295 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 1: of mass shootings. Florida was the first state to say, oh, 296 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: we're not going to do anything about, you know, school shootings, 297 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: We'll just arm our teachers. Right We're sending them to 298 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: work in a pandemic without the safety of mask mandates 299 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 1: in these states, without the safeties of vaccination requirements in 300 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: these states. And now we're saying you can't talk about 301 00:18:55,640 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: race or racism, you can't talk about LGBTQ people. What 302 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: are teachers saying to you all? What are you hearing? 303 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: And is there a mass resignation of teachers that we 304 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 1: actually should be paying attention to Yeah, then you know 305 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 1: it's funny you asked that, because even before the pandemic, 306 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: even before the sentis, we had a shortage of teachers. 307 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: That shortage is being exacerbated, that shortage is being expanded 308 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: beyond almost beyond repair, because we don't have enough students 309 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:29,719 Speaker 1: in our colleges and universities that are in the pipeline 310 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: to become teachers. And so this shortage is going to 311 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 1: send us back decades. It's going to send us back decades, 312 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 1: not only in public schools throughout, but we know that 313 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: our black and brown children hurt even more because we 314 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: know that there are a lack of black and brown 315 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 1: teachers in our classrooms in the in the state of Florida. 316 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,880 Speaker 1: In fact, black males make up two percent of all 317 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: teachers in the country. And so we have those shortages. 318 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: And it's not what teachers are saying. It's what they're 319 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,159 Speaker 1: not saying. It's that they're putting their keys on their 320 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,439 Speaker 1: principles desk and saying, you know what, I've had it. 321 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: You won't keep me safe. You're fighting mass mandates, you're 322 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: acting as if the vaccines don't exist. You're telling me 323 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: what I can teach as it relates to history. You're 324 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: telling me what I can teach as it relates to students' 325 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:21,640 Speaker 1: mental health. And LGBTQ students need those types of supports 326 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: around them because it is still a very vulnerable place 327 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 1: to be when you are a young student, and so 328 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: our teachers are the first line of defense there. And 329 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:32,640 Speaker 1: so teachers are not saying anything, they're just walking out 330 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 1: the door. If you've got thirty years or thirty five 331 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: years or twenty five years, you're saying, you know what, 332 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: I've had enough. I have simply had enough, and I'm 333 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,160 Speaker 1: out of here. And then, if you are a first 334 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,440 Speaker 1: year teacher or a second year teacher, or if you're 335 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,400 Speaker 1: in college, what incentive do you have to come into 336 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: education knowing that these people are going to underpay you, 337 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 1: they're going to undercut you, they're not going to support you, 338 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: and you have laws that have made you the enemy. Listen, 339 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: our teachers are the beautiful people in our country. It 340 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,159 Speaker 1: is still the most noble profession that you can go 341 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 1: into to give back to your community, to love kids 342 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:11,360 Speaker 1: every day. Our most precious resource is in our classrooms. 343 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 1: We've got to teach and treat our teachers in the 344 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: same manner that we do our kids because we give 345 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 1: them to them every day. That's that's who we are. 346 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: And it's not only teachers, it's the educational community. Why 347 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,880 Speaker 1: is the bus driver making seven dollars an hour. Why 348 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: is the cafeteria worker who's feeding that hungry kid making 349 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 1: less than a minimum wage. Why is the secretary who 350 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: is in charge of giving all of the the you know, 351 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 1: all the reports for the school back to the you know, 352 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,919 Speaker 1: to the school leadership. Why can't she pay her own bills. 353 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: It's an educational village out there that is being disrupted 354 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: every single day, and this LGBTQ bill is just one 355 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 1: more insult. It's one more insult to where teachers are 356 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: afraid to say anything in schools because we're being told 357 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 1: what to say, when the state and how to see it. 358 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: That's not teaching. That's dictatorship and that should not be 359 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: in the state of Florida. So how Frederick is aft 360 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,439 Speaker 1: fighting against all of the things, all the litany of 361 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: things that have been laid out, because you know, when 362 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,120 Speaker 1: you look at what is happening in Florida, you see 363 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:23,239 Speaker 1: the fight that teachers are against stuff. In Chicago, you 364 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 1: see what was happening in LA across the country right, 365 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 1: teachers are literally under assault. They're either having to form 366 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: walkouts in order to have their needs be met, right, 367 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 1: but they're to your point, being looked at as the 368 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 1: enemy of the people, when in twenty twenty we were 369 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,480 Speaker 1: saying that they were essential and they were heroes. So 370 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 1: what is AFT doing to help this fight, to help 371 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:54,400 Speaker 1: teachers stand up, form themselves, and then also to kind 372 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 1: of to recruit in an environment where I'm telling you, 373 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 1: if I were to be asked today to be a teacher, 374 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 1: I would say no, right right, well listen. So I 375 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 1: am so proud of our union, the American Federation of Teachers. 376 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:11,120 Speaker 1: Our president is Randy Weingarten, who is a vanguard of 377 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: our public schools, and she has been in and around 378 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 1: this country, all over this country. We started the school 379 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:18,880 Speaker 1: year off with it Back to School for All campaign, 380 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: where we went directly to parents knocking on doors saying, hey, 381 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,159 Speaker 1: we need your kids back in school. We know that 382 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: they've been on virtual school, we know that they haven't 383 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 1: been in a classroom. We know that we've got to 384 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: reacculterate them to the school policies and processes. But they've 385 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:34,479 Speaker 1: got to be in school. That's what we did at 386 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 1: the beginning of school year. Literally, union members went door 387 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: to door, knocking on doors in the hood and the suburbs, 388 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: way out in the fields. You know, it didn't matter 389 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 1: what the demographics were. We wanted kids back in school. 390 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: And in large part we did that. Ninety nine percent 391 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: of our schools were open at the beginning of school 392 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: and that was, you know, through the push from the 393 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,400 Speaker 1: federal government, through the police, from our unions and teachers 394 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,479 Speaker 1: literally saying bring these kids back to school and let 395 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: us work the magic. And so we're continuing that effort 396 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: now by joining with parents. Parents have the ultimate power 397 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 1: as it relates to our schools, and that's where the 398 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: power should be. And so we're linking up with parents 399 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: all over this country. We're letting them know that they've 400 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: got to speak at school boards. They have got to 401 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: know their school board members. They've got to you know, 402 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: have a dialogue with their superintendence and the principles. They've 403 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:31,479 Speaker 1: got to demand that schools are equitable. They leave with 404 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: education justice, and we understand that we have to teach 405 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: the truth and give our teachers the latitude to do 406 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: what they went to school to do what they know 407 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 1: how to do, what they have the passion to do, 408 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: and so that's what we're doing. We're linking up with 409 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: our community members, We're linking up with parents all over 410 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: this country. We're forming these collaborations and trying to make 411 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 1: sure that we push and that's what we're doing from 412 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: bottom up, from the top down, We're ensuring that we 413 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: get people ready to vote because along these bad bills, 414 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: these LGBTQ bills, and these these bad trans bills, and 415 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,919 Speaker 1: these bad voter suppression bills, we know that these same 416 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: people who are promulgating this stuff, including governor desenters, don't 417 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: want people to vote. They want to take people away, 418 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 1: and they have politicized education. And so if they have 419 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 1: politicized education, then that means that we've got to get 420 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,159 Speaker 1: to the ballot box and put some people in place 421 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 1: that will help all of our students, that will help 422 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: all of our schools, that mean well about education. And 423 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: so that's what we're doing. From the top down. We 424 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:38,399 Speaker 1: are challenging these voter suppression bills all over this country. 425 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:42,240 Speaker 1: We've linked up with partners and allies all over the country. 426 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 1: Our unions is stronger than ever. People are joining our 427 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:48,439 Speaker 1: union because they see the relevance if yes, we have 428 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: a mass resignation out there and people looking for jobs, 429 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: and yes there's truth and you know, people being scared 430 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 1: of the pandemic. But let me tell you something. This 431 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 1: generation of young people, this generation of workers, they want 432 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: to fight. They want equity, they want justice, and they 433 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 1: know wrongdoing and they know who's on the side or right. 434 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,240 Speaker 1: And so we want people to know that the unions 435 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: are on the on the right side of history, and 436 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: we're going to continue to fight every single day. If 437 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 1: it's the school board members, if it's these ancillary groups 438 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,919 Speaker 1: that are out there, if it's these right wing uh, 439 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 1: you know, very non conservative group, but hate groups. We've 440 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: seen more hate. And we started off talking about the LGBTQ. 441 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: But why why do you not like people who are 442 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 1: different from you because they're a different color from you, 443 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: because the active because they love a little different than you. 444 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 1: They're people we want the same things, you know, and 445 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 1: people all we should lead with love in our classrooms, 446 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 1: in our leadership styles, in our communities. We should want 447 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 1: what's best for our fellow man and woman. And some 448 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: of these hate groups out there, and some of these 449 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:56,239 Speaker 1: you know, right wing folks don't want that, and so 450 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:58,199 Speaker 1: we get into the half and the half nots, And 451 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: so we're union that wants everybody to have and we 452 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,359 Speaker 1: believe that we have enough in this country to do 453 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 1: that if we do it through our schools. Frederick, I 454 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:08,880 Speaker 1: can't thank you enough for making the time to join 455 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 1: woke F and also for the work of recruiting retaining 456 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 1: the magic workers in our communities, because I believe that 457 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 1: without teachers, without teachers that lead with love, that see 458 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,399 Speaker 1: all of their students as equal, that sees their parents 459 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 1: and caregivers as part of a larger fabric of our community, 460 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,159 Speaker 1: we're never going to beat back against the hate that 461 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:32,439 Speaker 1: you just spoke about. And so I commend you. I 462 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 1: hope that you all will come back and spend more 463 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 1: time with us on woke F to talk about, you 464 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: know what other what people can do in their own 465 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: communities to support their teachers, their administrators, and their schools, 466 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: whether or not they have kids in the system or not, 467 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 1: because I think that it is really important. Frederick Ingraham, 468 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: thank you so much for making the time to join 469 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:55,119 Speaker 1: woke F. We appreciate you. Thank you Daniel for having me. 470 00:27:55,160 --> 00:28:01,440 Speaker 1: I appreciate you, folks. I am very excited to be 471 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: joined by staff attorney in the Southern Regional Office of 472 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: LAMB the Legal, Carl Charles, who can help us understand. 473 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: Help us understand, Carl, the legal nightmare that the LGBTQ 474 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 1: plus community is facing. You know, what often happens is 475 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 1: that egregious laws like this don't say gay bill will 476 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: come out of Florida, and the majority of us who 477 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: don't live in Florida who are queer will be like, well, 478 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,680 Speaker 1: I don't live there. That's unfortunate. Those people should move right. 479 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: But what we are noticing is that when these laws 480 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: pop up in places like Texas, in Florida, in Tennessee, 481 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: they have a ripple effect across the country, particularly in 482 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 1: the twenty eight states that are run by Republican governors. 483 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 1: Tell us what is happening in Florida with this legislation 484 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 1: and what LAMB the Legal and other that I know 485 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: that you work in coalition with are paying attention to 486 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 1: at this moment. Thanks thanks Daniel, and thanks so much 487 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: for having me on to discuss this really incredibly important issue. 488 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 1: And I think your framing is exactly right. It is 489 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 1: a nightmare, and it's one for all of us, not 490 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: just for those of us who live in the states 491 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 1: where these bills are cropping up. So, as you mentioned, 492 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: we are seeing really an unprecedented number in the last 493 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 1: few legislative sessions of bills that target specifically trans and 494 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: gender nonconforming young people in many different aspects of their lives, 495 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: but largely in schools. And this bill is of course 496 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: targeted to young people in schools, not just trans and 497 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: gender nonconforming, but all young people who attend school of 498 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 1: any kind at the primary or secondary level in Florida. 499 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: And really the reach, the scope of the harm that 500 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 1: this bill could cause is really hard to measure, to 501 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 1: be honest. You know, there's of course the most clear 502 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: and acute harm, which is going to be to the 503 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 1: LGBTQ students in schools across Florida, whose teachers are as 504 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: if this bill passes, will be essentially chilled, right and 505 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 1: fearful of discussing anything related to sexual orientation or gender identity. 506 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: And I want to point out for your audience, for 507 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:44,640 Speaker 1: your listeners a really important part of this bill and 508 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: what connects to what you said about how this bill 509 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: is connected to the other bills that are being proposed 510 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 1: in other states. This bill has done something I don't 511 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 1: want to say clever, but it frankly it is right. 512 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 1: As compared to a bill that the legal was involved 513 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: in striking down in South Carolina, a bill that explicitly 514 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:10,080 Speaker 1: targeted any discussion of lgbt people. We were involved in 515 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: getting getting that stricken. But this bill doesn't specify, right, 516 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 1: doesn't specify homosexuality, It doesn't say anything about LGBTQ. So 517 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 1: you could read this bill, and a judge could read 518 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 1: this bill and note that there's nothing in the bill 519 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 1: language that explicitly targets someone's non heterosexual such orientation out 520 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 1: to be excluded. So theoretically one could read this bill 521 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,800 Speaker 1: and say, oh, this just says you can't discuss such 522 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 1: orientation or gender identity of any kind, including heterosexuality, with 523 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 1: children in primary school. Right. But we all know, right, 524 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:51,240 Speaker 1: we all know how this bill is going to be interpreted. 525 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 1: We know how it's going to be, the discretion it's 526 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 1: going to allow to people who oppose equality for LGBTQ people, 527 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:02,920 Speaker 1: we know how it's going to be utilized, and the 528 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 1: provision that allows for essentially parents, right parents to be 529 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,360 Speaker 1: the law enforcement officers of this bill and to bring 530 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 1: suit against schools is going to have such a chilling 531 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 1: effect on allied and lgbt educators across the state of Florida. 532 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: It's really going to be stark. And I want to 533 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:25,280 Speaker 1: just add one more thing, which is to say, the 534 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: broader harm here is to all students, right, not just 535 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:31,959 Speaker 1: LGBTQ students who don't see their identities or their lives 536 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 1: throughout history mirrored in any kind of meaningful way. It's 537 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 1: two heterosexual students and sis gender students who need to 538 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 1: be learning about the diversity in their communities and their 539 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 1: worlds to be able to be the kinds of people 540 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: who grow up and want to get to know their 541 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:52,440 Speaker 1: neighbors and live in harmony and support of one another, 542 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: and know what it means to be a global contributing 543 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: citizen in the world right, not just relegate to whatever 544 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:03,240 Speaker 1: particular bubble they grew up in. So I view it 545 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 1: as a really large scale harm to all students across 546 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: the educational system of Florida. And to answer the second 547 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:14,560 Speaker 1: part of your question, lamb illegal and folks on the 548 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: ground like a quality Florida and many other groups in 549 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: the state of Florida are working around the clock to 550 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:25,640 Speaker 1: really oppose this bill. First, you know, in the legislature, 551 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,880 Speaker 1: lobbying legislators, trying to do what they are able to 552 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 1: do to say, here, here's the myriad harms that this 553 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: is going to cause to so many children in our state, 554 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 1: and here's here's going to be the ripple effect. But 555 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: beyond that, I think we're really sort of focused on 556 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 1: opposing and trying to stop the bill from moving any further. 557 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: But I do have to tell you, I think many 558 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: of us share some some educated cynicism and skepticism that 559 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 1: this bill might pass, right. I mean, we've seen and 560 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 1: I want to connect this to similar censorship issues that 561 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:09,640 Speaker 1: we have seen just exploding, especially in Florida, and things 562 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 1: that have been used as a dog whistle. Right, So 563 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:16,400 Speaker 1: we've seen critical race theory opposition bills us to basically 564 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:21,400 Speaker 1: again hamstring and chill the speech of educators who all 565 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:26,680 Speaker 1: want to discuss anything having to do with with with 566 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 1: the oppression of black people in the United States, right historically, 567 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 1: the civil rights movement, anything related to race and racism, 568 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,279 Speaker 1: That's what those kinds of bills are targeting and we 569 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,759 Speaker 1: view this bill is very, very similar and linked up 570 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:45,640 Speaker 1: with this kind of refusal of people to engage in 571 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 1: the uncomfortable realities of the history of our country and 572 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 1: also the current lives and lived experience of people who 573 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:00,920 Speaker 1: are not white straits as gender and man right, And 574 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 1: so that's really the connection that we're seeing as well. 575 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 1: You know, carl I brought this up in another interview 576 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:13,239 Speaker 1: that I did, and this resonates here as well. I 577 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:22,240 Speaker 1: learned recently that children in China are not taught about 578 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 1: the Tianamen Square massacre. That there is no mention whatsoever 579 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:33,560 Speaker 1: that generations upon generations following that massacre that happened that 580 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 1: the world watched, and that we are taught in our 581 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:40,840 Speaker 1: history books. Right, they are not. It was a law 582 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:45,640 Speaker 1: that was passed by right the leaders of China that 583 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:50,320 Speaker 1: said you weren't allowed to teach about it. It didn't happen, 584 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:53,440 Speaker 1: it didn't exist. The parents of those students were not 585 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:56,240 Speaker 1: allowed to mourn publicly. They were never allowed to mention 586 00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:59,520 Speaker 1: those children's name. If in fact, you have ever heard 587 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:03,360 Speaker 1: about the Tianamen Square, it is either because you grew 588 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:08,280 Speaker 1: up elsewhere right and left China, or it was passed 589 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:11,440 Speaker 1: down in some type of oral history. This is exactly 590 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:13,920 Speaker 1: the same thing that is happening in the United States, 591 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:17,279 Speaker 1: a country that we say as a democracy. When you 592 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:23,760 Speaker 1: walk into court right and you are making a case 593 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:26,080 Speaker 1: against what is happening, and you use the right word, 594 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:29,880 Speaker 1: you said clever, because it's the same way that they 595 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:34,640 Speaker 1: wrote the bill in Texas around abortion very clever, right, 596 00:36:34,719 --> 00:36:37,480 Speaker 1: Because what do they know If we don't mention these 597 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:40,040 Speaker 1: actual things, if we don't write it in black and white, 598 00:36:40,120 --> 00:36:44,480 Speaker 1: and it's just an insinuation, then you can't prove an insinuation. 599 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:50,160 Speaker 1: And until there is actually a case right, there is nothing, 600 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,840 Speaker 1: There is nothing to be fought against right or four. 601 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 1: So how do you fight when they are now steps 602 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:04,839 Speaker 1: miles ahead of these past suits that we've seen, how 603 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 1: do you fight well? So you make another really important 604 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 1: connection to what we're seeing happen in state legislatures, particularly 605 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:18,520 Speaker 1: around abortion rights and access. And the law in Texas 606 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:21,480 Speaker 1: is a great example of this right. You leave it 607 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:25,399 Speaker 1: to citizens to enforce it, and you created in such 608 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 1: a way that makes it fairly immune from legal challenge 609 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:32,640 Speaker 1: until a certain point. Right. And so you know, our 610 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:37,120 Speaker 1: opponents have learned that the way to embed racism in 611 00:37:37,160 --> 00:37:40,640 Speaker 1: our laws is to not say anything about race, right, 612 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:44,560 Speaker 1: to make it, on its face very neutral, and that 613 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: makes it a lot more difficult to when you go 614 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:50,120 Speaker 1: into court and you're bringing legal challenges, you have to 615 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,600 Speaker 1: the bar for disparate impact. Right, It's a legal theory 616 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 1: called disparate impact is you have to, really the bar 617 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:00,600 Speaker 1: is extremely high to show that this law has been 618 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:06,799 Speaker 1: disparately enforced against a certain group of people. It's an 619 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:11,439 Speaker 1: incredible challenge, and colleagues who work in the civil rights 620 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:15,960 Speaker 1: space know this across the board. Right. The way to 621 00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:20,520 Speaker 1: insulate things from legal challenged is to be clever about 622 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:22,480 Speaker 1: the words that you use in the text of the 623 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:25,240 Speaker 1: law so that it can be interpreted in a neutral way, 624 00:38:25,920 --> 00:38:30,279 Speaker 1: which makes it not immune, but it gives it a 625 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:34,680 Speaker 1: great deal more ability to evade legal challenges, right, and 626 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:37,680 Speaker 1: makes it harder to establish standing on behalf of plaintiffs 627 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:42,560 Speaker 1: who are harmed. So you just hit the nail on 628 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,080 Speaker 1: the head. I can't say anything more than just that. 629 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:49,960 Speaker 1: I just you know, I can't believe, Carl, I cannot 630 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:54,440 Speaker 1: believe that the right wing is smarter than us. I 631 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:59,640 Speaker 1: cannot believe that conservatives have found a way to make 632 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:04,400 Speaker 1: it so we live in this quote unquote neutral society, 633 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:08,040 Speaker 1: and yet we actually know who is being harmed, we 634 00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:10,200 Speaker 1: know what it is that they're doing. And are we 635 00:39:10,239 --> 00:39:13,280 Speaker 1: to assume that the judges that are on these benches 636 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:18,960 Speaker 1: are quote unquote neutral, because again, like you can't just 637 00:39:19,120 --> 00:39:23,120 Speaker 1: look at this in black and white and say, oh, well, 638 00:39:23,239 --> 00:39:25,840 Speaker 1: until there is something bad that happens, we're just going 639 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:31,040 Speaker 1: to let this slide. We're talking about generations of whitewashing, 640 00:39:31,320 --> 00:39:36,200 Speaker 1: of straightwashing, of ciswashing. We're talking about erasure, right, and 641 00:39:36,360 --> 00:39:40,840 Speaker 1: what that looks like down the line. And so where 642 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:45,360 Speaker 1: do we go from here? It's a great question. I 643 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:48,800 Speaker 1: think that I think it goes back to your remarks 644 00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:54,400 Speaker 1: to open our conversation today, which is we all of 645 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:59,520 Speaker 1: us right concerns people who are watching what is happening unfold, 646 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:03,440 Speaker 1: cannot be content to say I feel bad for those 647 00:40:03,480 --> 00:40:07,160 Speaker 1: people over there, right, because we are seconds away from 648 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:11,040 Speaker 1: those people over there being this person right here, right, 649 00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:16,560 Speaker 1: And so we cannot, we really cannot afford to have 650 00:40:16,680 --> 00:40:21,000 Speaker 1: that mentality that the problems happening or the issues in 651 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:23,600 Speaker 1: our country are happening in a state I would never 652 00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:26,960 Speaker 1: live in, right. I mean, I moved to Georgia almost 653 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:29,560 Speaker 1: well a year and a half ago from New York City, 654 00:40:29,560 --> 00:40:33,959 Speaker 1: where I had been for almost seven years. And it's 655 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:36,759 Speaker 1: just not sufficient to say I will never end up 656 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:38,719 Speaker 1: in a place like that, Right, we have to make 657 00:40:38,719 --> 00:40:42,320 Speaker 1: a difference and take action where we are. And so 658 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:46,000 Speaker 1: I think having a I don't mean to say that 659 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:49,000 Speaker 1: people don't have this, but I think it's incredibly, incredibly 660 00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 1: important in this moment that we take a concerted effort, 661 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:57,880 Speaker 1: a concert we make a concerted effort to invest in 662 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:01,319 Speaker 1: communities that we aren't a part but are connected to 663 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:04,440 Speaker 1: by virtue of what is happening there. Right, we have 664 00:41:04,520 --> 00:41:07,040 Speaker 1: to get involved and figure out ways to support people 665 00:41:07,080 --> 00:41:11,560 Speaker 1: who are impacted by these bills and ensure that we 666 00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:19,200 Speaker 1: don't allow those same We don't allow the same sort 667 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:22,719 Speaker 1: of landscape to be built in the places where we are. Right. 668 00:41:22,760 --> 00:41:25,600 Speaker 1: If we're so sure that this could never happen where 669 00:41:25,640 --> 00:41:28,840 Speaker 1: we are, well, then we better be damned sure we're 670 00:41:29,040 --> 00:41:32,799 Speaker 1: we're creating and maintaining a place where that's not going 671 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:35,640 Speaker 1: to happen, right, Because I think people have sort of 672 00:41:35,719 --> 00:41:39,040 Speaker 1: lull themselves into a bit of complacency when we talk 673 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:41,960 Speaker 1: like that, and then we see things happen in places 674 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:45,120 Speaker 1: that we wouldn't expect them to. Right. I'm thinking of 675 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:48,320 Speaker 1: my home state of Colorado, which, even though it didn't pass, 676 00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:51,680 Speaker 1: there was still a bill presented to the legislature about 677 00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:55,520 Speaker 1: banning gender affirming healthcare for transient people. Right, So that 678 00:41:56,239 --> 00:41:59,040 Speaker 1: the fact that these kinds of things happen means that 679 00:41:59,280 --> 00:42:01,560 Speaker 1: we still need to be committed to doing what we 680 00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:04,880 Speaker 1: can where we are to ensure that doesn't happen, and 681 00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:07,640 Speaker 1: finding ways to tap into and support people who are 682 00:42:07,640 --> 00:42:10,279 Speaker 1: doing work on the ground where these things are really 683 00:42:10,320 --> 00:42:13,880 Speaker 1: sort of being, where the alarm is really being sounded, 684 00:42:13,880 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 1: where they are likely to or have extreme potential to pass. Carl, 685 00:42:19,239 --> 00:42:23,000 Speaker 1: I can't thank you enough for the work that you're doing, 686 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:26,279 Speaker 1: for the work that lamb Illegal has always done, UM 687 00:42:26,920 --> 00:42:30,680 Speaker 1: for for for so many, so many decades, UM and 688 00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:36,759 Speaker 1: for queer people like myself. UM. Tell people who are 689 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:40,520 Speaker 1: listening how they can support your work, how they can 690 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:43,839 Speaker 1: how they cannot just sit around and say, well, at 691 00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:46,359 Speaker 1: least I'm not living there. What can foot what can 692 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:52,080 Speaker 1: regular people do to help aid this effort? Thanks, Danielle, 693 00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:54,959 Speaker 1: and I have to extend that gratitude back to you. 694 00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:58,760 Speaker 1: For the work that you do on this show, educating 695 00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:02,800 Speaker 1: folks across the country, making sure that people know about 696 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:06,560 Speaker 1: the issues, both nationally but locally. I think that's a 697 00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:09,879 Speaker 1: real incredible asset that you bring to this space. So 698 00:43:10,200 --> 00:43:13,560 Speaker 1: let me extend that gratitude back to you and say 699 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:16,520 Speaker 1: that I feel very honored to do the work that 700 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:18,960 Speaker 1: I do at LAMB Illegal. There's a number of different 701 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:22,520 Speaker 1: ways folks can get involved. We are a national organization, 702 00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:26,600 Speaker 1: but we have six regional offices, one in Atlanta, Georgia, 703 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:31,600 Speaker 1: where I am. We're also in Dallas, Texas, Los Angeles, California, Chicago, Illinois, 704 00:43:31,920 --> 00:43:35,120 Speaker 1: New York City, New York, and Washington, DC. And we 705 00:43:35,239 --> 00:43:37,520 Speaker 1: tackle a host of issues that of course have a 706 00:43:37,840 --> 00:43:40,800 Speaker 1: national impact, but we do a lot of work regionally 707 00:43:40,840 --> 00:43:43,560 Speaker 1: as well, and we sort of break up the country 708 00:43:43,719 --> 00:43:47,440 Speaker 1: into those we break up the states into those regions, 709 00:43:47,480 --> 00:43:52,239 Speaker 1: so folks in our Southern regional office, we have our 710 00:43:52,239 --> 00:43:54,680 Speaker 1: eyes and ears on the ground in Florida, in South 711 00:43:54,719 --> 00:43:58,560 Speaker 1: Carolina and Alabama. So I would encourage folks to check 712 00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:02,879 Speaker 1: out our website, which is www dot LAMB legal dot org. 713 00:44:03,440 --> 00:44:07,880 Speaker 1: We have a whole host of information that gives folks 714 00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:10,759 Speaker 1: avenues to plug into groups that are doing the work 715 00:44:10,880 --> 00:44:15,080 Speaker 1: locally in their communities, but also gives folks tools to 716 00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:19,560 Speaker 1: do advocacy on their own. Behalf right to be advocating 717 00:44:19,600 --> 00:44:22,640 Speaker 1: in their at their school board meetings, right if they're 718 00:44:23,200 --> 00:44:26,680 Speaker 1: considering running for office. Things to think about when you're 719 00:44:27,480 --> 00:44:30,720 Speaker 1: trying to look trying to figure out how to tackle 720 00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:34,560 Speaker 1: issues that are confronting LGBT people in your community. Our 721 00:44:34,600 --> 00:44:38,279 Speaker 1: website has a real wealth of information there, and we 722 00:44:38,320 --> 00:44:41,640 Speaker 1: also have contact information for our regional offices. If you 723 00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:45,000 Speaker 1: or someone you know about is experiencing discrimination on behalf 724 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:48,680 Speaker 1: of your LGBTQ identity, If you're concerned about what your 725 00:44:48,719 --> 00:44:52,160 Speaker 1: child is experiencing in their school related to their identity, 726 00:44:52,239 --> 00:44:54,400 Speaker 1: please reach out to us. We have a team of 727 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:59,880 Speaker 1: attorneys whose staff a help desk at ridiculous hours of 728 00:45:00,239 --> 00:45:03,120 Speaker 1: of the day and into the night, so that we 729 00:45:03,160 --> 00:45:05,760 Speaker 1: are learning about the things that are happening to LGBT 730 00:45:05,880 --> 00:45:08,719 Speaker 1: people across the country, so that we can be challenging 731 00:45:08,760 --> 00:45:13,680 Speaker 1: things early and often. Appreciate you so very much, and 732 00:45:13,719 --> 00:45:15,359 Speaker 1: I hope that you come back again and join us 733 00:45:15,360 --> 00:45:18,480 Speaker 1: on wok F. Thank you, Carl, thanks so much, Thank you, Danielle, 734 00:45:18,560 --> 00:45:25,719 Speaker 1: take care of. That is it for me today at 735 00:45:25,719 --> 00:45:29,040 Speaker 1: Woke f Daily. As always, Power to the people and 736 00:45:29,080 --> 00:45:32,400 Speaker 1: to all the people. Power, get woke and stay woke 737 00:45:32,400 --> 00:45:32,839 Speaker 1: as fuck.