ORLANDO, Fla. — During Pride Month, LGBTQ+ advocates celebrated a move by the federal government recently to revise Title IX rules in schools to include protections for students who face discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Gov. Ron DeSantis already announced Florida won’t comply with the new rules and the state is suing the Biden administration.

Saffron Cousins, who was born female, considers themselves nonbinary, which they say made them a target for complaints from other students at school.

“There have been several times where I’ve had fellow students complain about my identity, making them uncomfortable,” said Cousins.

And they say thanks to the Parental Rights in Education law, that critics refer to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill — and other measures by leaders in Florida — there’s confusion among students and teachers about what’s even allowed in schools, and what’s not.

“At this point students are fed up, teachers are fed up, the general administration is fed up,” said Saffron.

Saffron’s mother, Jen Cousins, was happy to see the federal government revise Title IX rules in schools to protect against discrimination based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.

“I think it’s about time that they’ve done it,” said Jen.

Jen says she’s had meetings with members of the Biden administration in Orlando, where she’s urged them to take more action on the issue.

“And we constantly got the feedback of ‘don’t worry, we’ve got your backs’ but nothing would ever happen, so it was great to finally for this come out and see yay they are taking this seriously, because before it would just seem like lip service,” said Jen.

But Jen is aware Florida leaders have already said the state will not comply with those federal protections.

“The rule that they’re trying to rule out — administratively, not by elected officials — by bureaucrats — is trying to subvert exactly why that law was passed in removing the privacy of girls and women in bathrooms and locker rooms,” said Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz.

“I think for the time being it’s going to come down to how school districts handle it themselves,” said Jen.

And that’s why she often goes to Orange County School Board meetings and keeps a close watch on how school leaders handle support for LGBTQ+ students.

At one particular meeting in late May, Jen expressed disappointment the school board initially dropped a proclamation specifically recognizing Pride Month, something the OCPS did in recent years.

“You cannot over support these kids. That’s key. You cannot over support them,” said Jen. “You cannot show these kids enough love, because we know what they’re going through.”

Heather Wilkie is the executive director of Zebra Youth, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth facing bullying, discrimination and even isolation from family that can often lead to homelessness. 

She believes even with the new federal protections under Title IX, it’s the county school districts that need to add more guidance on new state laws.

“I think there needs to be more attention on a local level as to how we are managing those bills, and interpreting the bills,” said Wilkie. “I would love to see more from the local districts to have specific guidelines for teachers and parents in support of our LGBTQ students.”

The revised Title IX rules go into effect Aug. 1. just in time for next school year. 

Saffron is beginning high school, where they are hoping for more inclusion and acceptance.

“There should be a lot more community spaces for me when I go to high school next year,” said Saffron.

But with the new federal protections facing legal challenges, it’s unclear if they will hold. And whether they do might determine the future of the family in Florida.

“Ideally we don’t want to leave, but we do talk about it all the time, leaving, because we have a 10-year-old that’s gay, and I don’t feel comfortable living somewhere where my children aren’t safe,” Jen said.  

The Biden administration was expected to issue rules forbidding schools to ban transgender athletes, but those considerations were put on hold and not part of the administrations revisions to Title IX issued in April.