Luke Netto: What inspired you to stand up and share your story rather than letting an act of homophobia go without consequences?
Tyler Johnson: I think what inspired me to stand up and share my story in the end was the simple fact that I knew I wasn’t the only person this was happening to. So many people whether they are older or younger have either gone through the disgusting acts of homophobia or are currently going through them and I know that not everyone can speak up. Whether that be because they are in a position where it is unsafe to speak up or simply just because they are too afraid. I felt that if I didn’t speak up I was essentially just portraying that these acts were okay and I knew that I had to do something to make sure this hate stops.
LN: Would you say that being a member of Generation Z has influenced your activism?
TJ: I would say that being a member of Gen Z has definitely influenced my activism. I’ve always had a passion for standing up for people in many different ways, but over the past few years it’s grown a lot. I’ve begun to take my activism more seriously. I feel that I owe that seriousness to being part of Generation Z. As we are the first generation to grow up with technology and social media from the time we were born it has given us a platform to use our voices and speak out about the things we believe in and that we feel are important. That advantage has given me many resources and opportunities. For example, I was able to attend the ACLU National Advocacy Institute and learn from so many amazing individuals and meet so many young people just as devoted as me which then led me to be a student ambassador for the NYCLU for a little while, I’ve been able to help organize rallies, co-host a youth activism summit, and more.
LN: Recent studies show that Gen Z is shifting towards apolitical or nonpartisan activism. Why do you think this is?
TJ: I think that some members of Gen Z have shifted towards apolitical and nonpartisan activism because of the toxicity of political parties. Over the last few years I think that if we as a society have learned anything it’s that anything can be politicized and shifted to fit a certain agenda. I think that this is a realization Gen Z in particular have become too familiar with because of the dynamics of social media and today's world. With that being said, I think that Gen Z has decided and realized that approaching the issues at more of a head on angle and with a specific goal of just solving the problem at hand instead of coming at the issues from a party standpoint gives it more of a focus of not only what needs to happen, but ways that we can do it.
LN: Your story quickly became viral across your school, state, and even the nation. Your story of a school censoring your story because it didn’t align with a socially conservative ideology seemed to resonate with a lot of people. Do you hope your message inspires others to speak up against this?
TJ: I do hope that my message inspires others to speak up. When I was first told that my original answers would not be featured in my school's senior spotlight my first thought and feelings weren’t that I was going to take this to social media and that it was going to blow up. My first feelings and thoughts were pain and why is this happening to me. But, I hope that by taking the action to speak out and showing others that it is okay to stand up for yourself and others, that it inspires other individuals to not let hate from people silence them or make them think they are less of a person because of who they are.
LN: Students in New York seem to be a fan of standing up for their rights. A few weeks ago, students in New York City staged walkouts over what they said was a lack of COVID-19 safety. Especially in NYC, activism that goes against political parties is prevalent, when taking into account the fact that NYC is under a Democratic mayor and largely Democratic government. Do you think that standing up for your beliefs, even when against your political party, is important? Do you think that going against the political party line of support is a characteristic of Gen Z activism?
TJ: I do think that standing up for your beliefs even if it goes against your political party is important. I think that if your belief doesn’t align with what you are being exposed to constantly by either your political party, family members, friends, etc. it makes it even more important to speak up. I say this because a lot of times, people need to hear what you have to say and unless you are the one to speak up and say it they may never hear it. I do think that Gen S goes against the political party line of support sometimes because it feels that may be the only way to get certain people on board with whatever it is you may be doing. Unfortunately, some people are so set into only agreeing with one party and their ideas that they won’t accept anything from another party. This is where the nonpartisan and apolitical activism comes in with Gen Z. By not affiliating with certain parties, the support could grow.
LN: What would you say is the generational makeup of those who have organized with you at your protests and demonstration? Why do you think this is?
TJ: I would say that the generational makeup of those that have organized with me and attended different events and helped out with different things has been pretty scattered honestly. I live in a really small rural community with not a large population so I didn’t even expect to have as much support as I do now, but I don’t think I could say most of them are part of Generation Z. I don’t think that has to do anything with maybe people in my school the same age as me not caring, but a lot of people honestly seem scared to speak up. Which is disheartening, but I do understand.
LN: What would you like to say to youth who see injustice in the world but fear their age prevents them from taking action?
TJ: I would like to say that it is never too early to change the world. While you may feel small like most young kids do and as I have felt and sometimes still do, it’s important to know that what you are feeling is simply just fear. Turning that fear into what motivates you is one of the hardest things to do, but it will be one of the things you are most proud of. And if you’re lacking inspiration or courage just look at all of the amazing activists that have started at young ages. People like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Jaylen Arnold, and so many others that have created lasting change. I promise you that this work is not easy, it’s tiring, and activism burn out is real, but it is the most rewarding work you will ever do.
Tyler Johnson: I think what inspired me to stand up and share my story in the end was the simple fact that I knew I wasn’t the only person this was happening to. So many people whether they are older or younger have either gone through the disgusting acts of homophobia or are currently going through them and I know that not everyone can speak up. Whether that be because they are in a position where it is unsafe to speak up or simply just because they are too afraid. I felt that if I didn’t speak up I was essentially just portraying that these acts were okay and I knew that I had to do something to make sure this hate stops.
LN: Would you say that being a member of Generation Z has influenced your activism?
TJ: I would say that being a member of Gen Z has definitely influenced my activism. I’ve always had a passion for standing up for people in many different ways, but over the past few years it’s grown a lot. I’ve begun to take my activism more seriously. I feel that I owe that seriousness to being part of Generation Z. As we are the first generation to grow up with technology and social media from the time we were born it has given us a platform to use our voices and speak out about the things we believe in and that we feel are important. That advantage has given me many resources and opportunities. For example, I was able to attend the ACLU National Advocacy Institute and learn from so many amazing individuals and meet so many young people just as devoted as me which then led me to be a student ambassador for the NYCLU for a little while, I’ve been able to help organize rallies, co-host a youth activism summit, and more.
LN: Recent studies show that Gen Z is shifting towards apolitical or nonpartisan activism. Why do you think this is?
TJ: I think that some members of Gen Z have shifted towards apolitical and nonpartisan activism because of the toxicity of political parties. Over the last few years I think that if we as a society have learned anything it’s that anything can be politicized and shifted to fit a certain agenda. I think that this is a realization Gen Z in particular have become too familiar with because of the dynamics of social media and today's world. With that being said, I think that Gen Z has decided and realized that approaching the issues at more of a head on angle and with a specific goal of just solving the problem at hand instead of coming at the issues from a party standpoint gives it more of a focus of not only what needs to happen, but ways that we can do it.
LN: Your story quickly became viral across your school, state, and even the nation. Your story of a school censoring your story because it didn’t align with a socially conservative ideology seemed to resonate with a lot of people. Do you hope your message inspires others to speak up against this?
TJ: I do hope that my message inspires others to speak up. When I was first told that my original answers would not be featured in my school's senior spotlight my first thought and feelings weren’t that I was going to take this to social media and that it was going to blow up. My first feelings and thoughts were pain and why is this happening to me. But, I hope that by taking the action to speak out and showing others that it is okay to stand up for yourself and others, that it inspires other individuals to not let hate from people silence them or make them think they are less of a person because of who they are.
LN: Students in New York seem to be a fan of standing up for their rights. A few weeks ago, students in New York City staged walkouts over what they said was a lack of COVID-19 safety. Especially in NYC, activism that goes against political parties is prevalent, when taking into account the fact that NYC is under a Democratic mayor and largely Democratic government. Do you think that standing up for your beliefs, even when against your political party, is important? Do you think that going against the political party line of support is a characteristic of Gen Z activism?
TJ: I do think that standing up for your beliefs even if it goes against your political party is important. I think that if your belief doesn’t align with what you are being exposed to constantly by either your political party, family members, friends, etc. it makes it even more important to speak up. I say this because a lot of times, people need to hear what you have to say and unless you are the one to speak up and say it they may never hear it. I do think that Gen S goes against the political party line of support sometimes because it feels that may be the only way to get certain people on board with whatever it is you may be doing. Unfortunately, some people are so set into only agreeing with one party and their ideas that they won’t accept anything from another party. This is where the nonpartisan and apolitical activism comes in with Gen Z. By not affiliating with certain parties, the support could grow.
LN: What would you say is the generational makeup of those who have organized with you at your protests and demonstration? Why do you think this is?
TJ: I would say that the generational makeup of those that have organized with me and attended different events and helped out with different things has been pretty scattered honestly. I live in a really small rural community with not a large population so I didn’t even expect to have as much support as I do now, but I don’t think I could say most of them are part of Generation Z. I don’t think that has to do anything with maybe people in my school the same age as me not caring, but a lot of people honestly seem scared to speak up. Which is disheartening, but I do understand.
LN: What would you like to say to youth who see injustice in the world but fear their age prevents them from taking action?
TJ: I would like to say that it is never too early to change the world. While you may feel small like most young kids do and as I have felt and sometimes still do, it’s important to know that what you are feeling is simply just fear. Turning that fear into what motivates you is one of the hardest things to do, but it will be one of the things you are most proud of. And if you’re lacking inspiration or courage just look at all of the amazing activists that have started at young ages. People like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Jaylen Arnold, and so many others that have created lasting change. I promise you that this work is not easy, it’s tiring, and activism burn out is real, but it is the most rewarding work you will ever do.