Jack Petocz

Jack Petocz (born September 8, 2004)[1] is an American student activist, the founder and director of Recall FCSB, and a political strategist for the nonprofit organization Gen-Z for Change.[2] He identifies as gay and speaks openly about his experiences as an LGBTQ+ person.[3] As an activist, he has protested publicly in opposition of public-school policing in the state of Florida related to discriminatory book bans, dress code policies, and Parental Rights in Education legislation which he believes further marginalize minorities.[4] His writing about LGBTQ+ rights have been featured in many publications including FlaglerLive,[5] The New York Times,[6] and MSNBC.[7]

Jack Petocz
Born (2004-09-08) September 8, 2004
EducationVanderbilt University
Alma materFlagler Palm Coast High School
OccupationActivist
Organization(s)Gen-Z for Change, Recall FCSB
Known forLGBTQ+ Activism
AwardsWebby Awards Social Movement of the Year, PEN America/Benenson Courage Award, Bob Stevenson Civil Libertarian of the Year Award, Anti-Defamation League Kay Family Award

Early life

Petocz attended Rymfire Elementary School,[8] Indian Trails Middle School,[9] and Flagler Palm Coast High School.[10]

Activism

Equitable Dress Code for Students

On August 23, 2021, in an op-ed with Flagler Live,[5] Petocz voiced his opinion on the school district’s dress code policy and brought attention to a petition to have it changed.[5] He stated that the dress code stripped students of all individuality and expression adding that female students were particularly adversely affected.[11]

Opposition of State Governed Book Bans

In November 2021, Petocz organized a protest challenging the Flagler County School Board for a book ban which called to remove books about LGBTQ+ characters and racism in the classroom.[6]

Petocz, the only student in recent memory that a school board member censored as he was addressing the board, mobilized a protest after Board member Jill Woolbright filed a challenge to four titles in school libraries. The challenge caused the titles to be removed from circulation. Woolbright in a criminal complaint filed with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and later in statements at school board meetings declared one of the circulation titles as criminal because of its sexual themes. Woolbright was supported by Board member Janet McDonald (the board member who’d censored Petocz), who used similar language to describe some of the books in question, especially George Johnson All Boys Aren’t Blue, a memoir of growing up Black and queer.[12]

Petocz was featured in The New York Times for organizing the protest against the Flagler County School Board for banning Johnson’s book from school libraries.[6] In the article, Petocz said that as a gay student himself, books like All Boys Aren't Blue are critical for youth.[6] He highlighted that it felt discriminatory against the LGBTQ+ community and books that don't have his community's representation are rarely challenged.

In an MSNBC interview, Petocz stated that the LGBTQ+ communities are further marginalized by school boards that police education, and the efforts to remove these books from the classroom is an attempt to erase identities as a whole.[11]

Launching Recall FCSB

After being silenced at meetings, Petocz founded Recall FCSB. The group is a student-led organization working toward empowering youth to act and vote against bigotry which they believe to be rampant within the Flagler County School Board. Its social media accounts were created on November 11, 2021.[11]

Organizing a Student Walk-Out in Protest of “Don’t Say Gay Bill”

On March 3, 2022, at age 17, Petocz planned a pre-approved rally and “Say Gay” walk-out at Flagler Palm Coast High School in opposition of the “Don’t Say Gay Bill.” Over 500 of the school’s students attended the protest as well as thousands of others statewide. The law, HB 1557, officially entitled “Parental Rights in Education,” prohibits discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in public classrooms in kindergarten through third grade and only when age-appropriate in higher grades.[13]

Petocz obtained administrative permission to host the walk-out but was later suspended for his actions as leader of the rally when he distributed gay pride flags which violated the school's code of conduct.[14] A change.org petition to overturn Petocz’s administrative removal resulted in over 7,000 signatures[15] when Principal Greg Schwartz elected to rescind the suspension.[16]

Petocz soon after wrote a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis in response to the bill's progression, requesting a meeting to discuss the potential impact of the GOP legislation and agenda.[17]

Joining Forces with Other Young Activists

Petocz is also a strategist associate for Gen-Z for Change, a coalition of more than 500 creators and activists fighting for progressive change to promote civil discourse and political action among the generation.[2]

Personal life

Petocz is openly gay.[3] He is an active participant at PEN America's Free Speech Advocacy institute.[4] He is a May 2022 Recipient of the PEN America/Benenson Freedom of Expression Courage Award.[4]

References
  1. Jack Petocz [@Jack_Petocz] (September 8, 2022). "18! :) Watch out @GovRonDeSantis, I'm of voting age. 😉" (Tweet). Retrieved February 27, 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. "Gen-Z for Change - About Us". February 7, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  3. Padgett, Donald (May 19, 2022). "Gay Florida Student Who Led Protest Can't Run for Class President". Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  4. "PEN America to Honor Florida High School Activist Jack Petocz for Organizing Book Ban and 'Don't Say Gay' Protests Statewide". PEN America. April 27, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  5. "An FPC Student's Perspective: Time to Rethink Inequitable and Irrational Dress Code in Flagler Schools". FlaglerLive. August 23, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  6. Harris, Elizabeth A.; Alter, Alexandra (January 30, 2022). "Book Ban Efforts Spread Across the U.S." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  7. "'You're just erasing identities as a whole' Student and Author on the impact of book bans". MSNBC.com. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  8. Ryan, Shaun. "Rymfire student group welcomes newcomers to school". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  9. "Flagler Schools Future Problem Solvers earn six awards at International Conference | Palm Coast". Palm Coast Observer. June 10, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  10. FlaglerLive (March 8, 2022). "A Storied Gay-Pride Flag Doubles Down Outside FPC as Veterans Lead Protest of Student Leader's Suspension". FlaglerLive. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  11. Ross, Nikki. "5 things to know about Jack Petocz, Flagler student suspended for handing out pride flags". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  12. "FPC's Jack Petocz Is Featured at Length in Page One New York Times Story on Schools' Book Bans". FlaglerLive. January 31, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  13. Morgan, Issac (March 28, 2022). "'Parental Rights in Education' bill signing inspires protests from LGBTQ people, allies". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  14. "Student says he was suspended for passing out pride flags during 'Don't Say Gay' walkout". WKRC. March 5, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  15. "Palm Coast student who organized protest of Florida's HB 1557 bill reinstated after petition". March 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  16. "Student walk-out organizer Jack Petocz back at school | Palm Coast". Palm Coast Observer. March 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  17. "Flagler student activist Jack Petocz writes a letter to Gov. DeSantis, wants to talk about 'Don't Say Gay' bill | Palm Coast". Palm Coast Observer. March 8, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
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