Teacher Files Lawsuit Over Claims of Being Denied Job for Using Gender-Neutral Pronouns

A former student teacher, who identifies as nonbinary, is suing the Fort Osage school district, claiming they were removed from assignments and denied employment for using gender-neutral pronouns.

Olivia Jackson, a University of Missouri–Columbia student who was assigned to teach vocal music in 2021, introduced themself at Fort Osage High School using she/her/they/them pronouns. Jackson also honored nonbinary students’ requests to be referred to by gender-neutral pronouns, following guidelines included in college curriculum, according to the federal lawsuit.

In response, Jackson claims an administrator told them that they were making students and parents uncomfortable, and that using gender-neutral pronouns was “too personal” and “too political.” The lawsuit says Jackson was removed from all student teaching assignments, denied employment with the district and stripped of a previously scheduled substitute teaching assignment.

Read the source article at aol.com