Trans, nonbinary Florida teachers file lawsuit against anti-pronoun law

Three Florida educators have filed a federal lawsuit over a new state law that prevents transgender or nonbinary public K-12 teachers from using their pronouns.

Under a provision of the law, which took effect in July, teachers may not “provide to a student his or her preferred personal title or pronouns if such preferred personal title or pronouns do not correspond to his or her sex.” And it defines sex as based on someone’s reproductive organs at birth. 

Those in violation could face revocation or suspension of their teaching certificate or other penalties.

“Plaintiffs are current and former Florida public-school teachers who simply wanted to teach math, science, and their other school subjects of expertise,” says the 61-page complaint, filed Wednesday. “But earlier this year, Florida enacted a new law that pushed one plaintiff out of their teaching career and threatens to do the same for the other plaintiffs — and for the other transgender and nonbinary teachers like them across Florida.”