I Would Do More Than That!

The students are planning on a walkout I would do more than that! I would sue the pants off the colleges that sent the medical information.

Ron DeSantis requested the information of trans students who sought care at Florida's public universities. Now students are planning a statewide walkout.
Insider
By Annalise Mabe
February 22, 2023

• Ron DeSantis told all public universities in Florida to hand over medical data on services performed related to gender dysphoria.
• Insider has confirmed six of the 12 universities have complied with the request.
• Now, college students across the state are planning a walkout to protest the governor's request.

Students across Florida are planning a statewide walkout after Gov. Ron DeSantis requested all public universities comply in delivering data from student health services on transgender students who sought gender-affirming care at the institutions.

[…]

Insider has confirmed that University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida International University, and the University of North Florida have complied with the request, but has yet to hear back from the rest. 

Students at these universities are now planning rallies for next week along with the statewide walkout on February 23. Ben Braver, a junior at the University of South Florida and the outreach officer for the school's College Democrats chapter, is leading the initiative, known as the Stand for Freedom Florida Walkout. 

First I would request all correspondence between the university and the state regarding medical records, next I would ask for a copy of you release of HIPAA information to a non-medical facility. Then I would sue them!

"The governor's abusing his power," Frost told Insider. "He's targeting folks that disagree with him — people who might not see eye to eye with him, marginalized communities."

It will be interesting in see what medical records were sent to the state. Was it just… “We have 100 trans students” or was it “here is a list of the individuals and their medical records,” That is a big difference! One is a violation of HIPAA and one isn’t.

It seems that maybe they didn’t violate HIPAA,

"As a state university, USF has an obligation to be responsive to requests from our elected officials," the university said in a statement, according to WUSF. "However, the university will not provide information that identifies an individual patient or violates patient privacy laws."

If that is true of all the university it is not quite as bad as first reported, but…

It still has a chilling effect on the trans and LGBTQ+ community. When government starts a witch hunt it hurts everyone. People wonder who’s next? What minority is the governor going to go after next? It is Big Brother running amok. 

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Update 4:25 PM: What the students need to do is organize! Get out the vote! Go door-to-door! Have town hall meetings! Start a phone bank! Public access cable TV shows!

When we were trying to pass the gender inclusive non-discrimination law I was on a cable access show down in New London about once every couple of months. I did phone banking for the Lamont senate campaign (Which I hated and will not do it again. Why, because I am an introvert. Do you know how hard that was to come out of my shell?).