Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Florida Pronoun Law

A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit to proceed against a Florida law mandating that teachers use pronouns corresponding to their sex assigned at birth, suggesting the law may violate protections against workplace discrimination. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker cited a brief from the Biden administration, which argued that the 2023 law breaches Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating based on sex. The lawsuit, filed by transgender teacher Katie Wood and nonbinary teacher AV Schwandes, contends that the law's mandatory nature and penalties for non-compliance make it a condition of employment. Walker had previously issued a preliminary injunction for Wood but not statewide. While the initial complaint was dismissed, an amended complaint prompted the judge to reconsider, acknowledging potential errors in his earlier ruling.