In a recent incident that has sparked heated discussions, a Florida teacher, AV Vary, was dismissed for using the gender-neutral honorific “Mx.” instead of traditional titles like “Ms.” or “Mr.” in school communications. Vary, who identifies as nonbinary, taught science at Florida Virtual School. This dismissal comes amid a wave of legislation in Florida targeting LGBTQ+ topics in schools.
Vary has since filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging discrimination based on gender identity. The legislation in question includes a law prohibiting employees from sharing pronouns or titles that do not align with their birth sex. Vary argues that their use of “Mx.” was a way to signal to marginalized students that they were safe people to talk to.
This incident has sparked a variety of reactions from the public. One reader asked, “Honest question. How is that pronounced? Is it like “mix” or no? I genuinely don’t know.” This comment highlights the unfamiliarity and confusion that some people have with gender-neutral pronouns and honorifics.
Others have expressed concern over the implications of this case. “Vary’s justification is to the point and succinct, but it may not be a winning argument in this climate in Florida. After the agency rules on his argument, expect that to proceed to the federal courts,” one reader commented, hinting at the potential legal battles that could arise from this incident.
Some readers drew parallels with past changes in language use. “I can remember when people were getting used to “Ms.” People didn’t get fired for using the term,” and “Anyone old enough to remember when Ms came about? There was a lot of debate over that too,” they noted, suggesting that societal acceptance of new terms can take time.
The case has also raised concerns about the teaching climate in Florida, with one reader stating, “Florida is struggling for qualified teachers at the moment.” Another reader pointed out the potential drain on government resources if the case proceeds to court and the message it sends to other teachers about the climate in Florida.
The public’s stance on the news is varied, with some expressing confusion over the use of gender-neutral honorifics, others drawing parallels with past debates over language changes, and some expressing concern over the potential legal implications and the teaching climate in Florida.
What Do You Think?
We invite our readers to share their views on this issue. Do you think Vary’s dismissal was justified? What are your thoughts on the use of gender-neutral honorifics in schools? Let us know in the comments below.