BILLINGS — About 50 students at Billings Skyview High School walked out of class on Friday afternoon in response to controversial anti-LGBTQ laws as part of similar protests nationwide.
The students are protesting what they say are attacks on LGBTQ youth, specifically laws passed by several states.
One in particular: The recently-passed Florida law that opponents have called the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The measure forbids classroom instruction on sexual and gender identity from kindergarten through the third grade.
"Part of the reason we are protesting is if a student already is not safe at home and isn’t loved, there should be no reason that a student shouldn’t feel accepted and loved at school too," said student Andromeda Schenck at the protest.
Supporters say the bill is needed so parents can have more say in what their students learn at school. They argue that LGBTQ-related topics should be left for families.
But these kids argue that school can feel safer than family.
Similar walkouts are happening across the country and some fear that these laws will be passed elsewhere.
TRENDING ARTICLES
- Alumni Club: off-limits to Malmstrom airmen
- MT boy learning to walk again after crash
- 8 people taken into custody in Browning
- VIDEO: an owl visits the Great Falls Eyecam
- Principal on leave after alleged assault
