A Gainesville elementary school teacher has been placed on leave for attempting to impose the gender-neutral title “Mx.” on students. This comes after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier asserted that this behavior blatantly violates state law.
Uthmeier didn’t mince words, stating in his correspondence to Alachua County Public Schools that the teacher’s actions are “unacceptable.” He called upon school officials to uphold the law and consider appropriate disciplinary measures, warning them of possible legal repercussions if they failed to act.
The teacher, whose identity has not been disclosed, is employed at Talbot Elementary School. A confirmation from district spokesperson Jackie Johnson revealed that the employee is now on administrative leave pending a thorough investigation.
The situation unfolded when Uthmeier’s newly established Office of Parental Rights received complaints about a teacher allegedly requiring students and faculty to refer to her as “Mx.” instead of the traditional “Ms.” or “Mrs.” This manufactured title, Uthmeier argued, interferes with the values of parents, asserting it is “unfit for a Florida educational setting.”
Florida House Bill 1069, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in July 2023, specifically prohibits K-12 school personnel from using preferred titles or pronouns that do not correspond with their biological sex. This legislation underscores the biological reality that sex is “binary” and “unchangeable,” a principle the Attorney General strongly defends.
Uthmeier reiterated that the honorific “Mx.” contravenes established state policy, directing the school district to ensure its immediate discontinuation in the classroom.
Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas echoed Uthmeier’s sentiments, labeling the allegations “deeply troubling” and affirming that they would be treated with utmost seriousness.
While the title “Mx.” has been around since the late 1970s and recently gained traction in the UK, its place in American classrooms is contested. The term is defined as a “gender-neutral honorific,” but its growing use raises significant concerns about its appropriateness in our educational system.
As this debate unfolds, it is clear that Florida stands firm in protecting parental rights and upholding the educational standards that reflect our core values. The state is resolute: traditional titles shall prevail in Florida schools.
