Gay grandpa fined $16k for protesting trans youth suicides would 'do it again'
– 1 min read
James Lantz, a 64-year-old filmmaker from Vermont known for his outspoken LGBTQ+ advocacy, has been fined $16,000 after pleading guilty to criminal mischief for gluing his hand to a railing inside the Pennsylvania State Capitol.
Lantz, who has terminal cancer and has dubbed himself the “Angry Gay Grandpa,” staged the protest in April 2024 to draw attention to a series of suicides among LGBTQ+ youth in Lancaster County. He linked the deaths to a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being advanced by Republican lawmakers in the state.
The protest involved Lantz driving seven hours to Harrisburg, where he glued his hand to a Capitol railing in opposition to a bill likened to Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law. The act caused damage to a carpet and chair, for which the fine was levied.
Speaking after his sentencing, Lantz accepted responsibility for the damage but criticised the state’s priorities:
“Does that mean that a chair has more value than the life of a trans youth?” he asked, highlighting what he sees as a moral failure in the response to his protest"
Lantz’s protest was aimed at raising awareness of the pressures faced by LGBTQ+ youth, particularly in areas where legislation restricts access to healthcare, limits inclusive education, and bans transgender athletes from school sports. He specifically called out former state senator Ryan Aument, accusing him of promoting policies that “bullied” LGBTQ+ children.
Despite the legal consequences, Lantz has remained defiant, stating he would “do it again” if it meant drawing attention to the lives lost and the ongoing legislative threats to LGBTQ+ rights.
The protest and subsequent sentencing have sparked renewed debate over the balance between civil disobedience and the value placed on property versus human life.
