Florida Teacher Suspended After Requesting Gender-Neutral Title ‘Mx’ Under DeSantis-Backed Law

A teacher at Talbot Elementary School in Gainesville, Florida, has been suspended and is under investigation after asking students and staff to use the gender-neutral honorific"Mx" rather than traditional gendered titles such as"Ms." or"Mrs." The suspension comes amid heightened scrutiny of gender identity policies in Florida public schools and follows the implementation of a new state law that restricts the use of preferred personal titles and pronouns by school employees if they do not correspond to the employee's sex assigned at birth .

The investigation began after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier received a complaint regarding the teacher’s request to be called"Mx" in the classroom. Uthmeier sent a letter to the Alachua County School Board and Superintendent, describing the use of"Mx" as a violation of both state and federal law, as well as school district policy. He argued that the title"Mx" is an “ideologically laden term” and claimed that its use is “unfit for a Florida educational setting” .

Citing Florida Statute 100.071, Uthmeier emphasized that public K-12 employees are prohibited from using a preferred title or pronoun that does not correspond to their sex assigned at birth. The statute, which was enacted as part of House Bill 1069 in 2023 and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, asserts that “sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such person’s sex” .

The Attorney General’s letter warned that failure by the district to enforce the law could result in legal liability and further enforcement action. Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas echoed the Attorney General’s remarks, calling the allegations"deeply troubling and ones I will not take lightly" .

Alachua County Public Schools spokesperson Jackie Johnson confirmed that the teacher had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation but did not release the teacher’s name or details regarding the length of the leave or potential disciplinary measures . The school district’s manual explicitly states that staff members cannot violate section 100.071 of Florida Statutes regarding the use of personal titles and pronouns.

The state’s actions have drawn attention from national and international media, as well as advocacy groups concerned about the impact on LGBTQ+ educators and students. The teacher’s supporters argue that the use of gender-neutral titles such as"Mx" is a means of fostering inclusivity and respect for non-binary and gender-diverse individuals. Critics, however, maintain that the new law is necessary to uphold traditional concepts of sex and gender in the classroom .

The controversy is the latest in a series of clashes over LGBTQ+ rights in Florida schools. House Bill 1069, signed into law by Governor DeSantis in July 2023, specifically prohibits K-12 school employees from using personal titles or pronouns that do not align with their sex assigned at birth. Proponents of the law argue it is designed to prevent what they call “woke gender ideology” in schools, while critics say it effectively silences and marginalizes transgender and non-binary educators and students .

The law also restricts the use of nicknames or preferred names in classrooms without parental consent. Teachers who knowingly violate these rules may face the suspension or revocation of their educator’s certificate, with the potential consequence of being barred from employment in Florida public schools .

LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights organizations have condemned the suspension, arguing that laws like HB 1069 undermine the safety and dignity of transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals in educational settings. The use of"Mx" — a title first documented in the 1970s and added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2015 — is widely recognized by LGBTQ+ communities as an affirming option for those who do not identify strictly as male or female .

Organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and the American Civil Liberties Union have previously warned that restrictive gender identity laws can contribute to a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ youth and staff, increasing risks of bullying, mental health challenges, and discrimination . Supporters of these laws, including some state officials, argue they are necessary to protect parental rights and ensure age-appropriate education .

The decision to suspend the teacher has sparked wider discussion across the country about the rights of educators to express their identities and the balance between state law, school policy, and individual dignity. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are closely monitoring the case, as its outcome could set a precedent for how similar incidents are handled in Florida and potentially other states with comparable legislation.

As of the latest updates, the teacher remains on administrative leave while Alachua County Public Schools and state authorities conduct their investigation. The district has not announced a timeline for a final decision or specified what disciplinary actions may result. The case remains a focal point in the broader debate over LGBTQ+ inclusion, educational freedom, and the evolving landscape of gender identity policy in American schools .