A retired gay teacher, Stephen Thorn, was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday for threatening a Trump-appointed judge over her ruling on Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law. The sentence, issued by U.S. District Judge William Jung in Tampa, is double what prosecutors had recommended. Thorn, 66, pleaded guilty in May to making a threat after leaving obscenity-filled voicemails for U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger. Judge Berger had rejected a legal challenge to Governor Ron DeSantis’ controversial law that restricts discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms. In the voicemails, Thorn criticized the judge, claiming she was “basically giving a green light” for LGBTQ children to be treated as “second-class citizens and bullied.” He added, “Let’s see how you would like it if somebody endangered your children in school or your grandchildren in school.” Before sentencing, Thorn submitted a letter of apology, expressing regret for any distress caused to the judge and her family. He mentioned that his son is gay, explaining that this may have contributed to his emotional response. Despite Thorn's apology, Judge Jung was firm in his decision, sentencing Thorn to the maximum penalty. Prosecutors highlighted the growing number of threats against federal judges, which have more than doubled in the last three years, signaling a troubling trend. #Queer Up Social Justice