Florida House targets transgender students in recent bills

August 16, 2023

At the beginning of this school year, new restrictions regarding nickname usage and restroom facilities were implemented. Due to the strict interpretation of state legislation by our school board, transgender students could no longer use the restroom that aligned with their identity, even if they were fully transitioned. In addition, many students now had to be "deadnamed" by their teachers due to the requirement of a nickname permission slip for all students. I knew this was going to be a difficult story to write, but thanks to the students who I interviewed about their experiences, I was able to highlight these new actions' effects on the student body.