Florida Teacher Placed On Leave For Using Gender-Neutral Title 'Mx.'

A teacher at Talbot Elementary School in Gainesville, Florida, has been placed on administrative leave after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier accused her of violating state law by requesting to be addressed with the gender-neutral title "Mx." instead of "Ms." or "Mrs.". This action is based on Florida House Bill 1069, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in July 2023, which prohibits K-12 school employees from using personal titles or pronouns inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth. Uthmeier described the use of "Mx." as "made-up" and "ideological," arguing it undermines parental rights and the state's policy that sex is an immutable biological trait. The Attorney General urged the Alachua County Public Schools to enforce the law and consider disciplinary measures, warning of potential legal liability if they fail to act. Critics, including the ACLU of Florida, have condemned the law as an extreme form of censorship that stigmatizes LGBTQ+ youth and fosters a less inclusive environment. The school district has confirmed the teacher's leave is pending an investigation, but details about the complaint's origin or future disciplinary actions remain undisclosed.