FLA Teacher Refuses to Use Proper Pronoun - Is Counselled

[Carolyn Marie]

https://www.theblaze.com/news/teacher-to-transgender-student-i-will-not-refer-to-you-with-female-pronouns-if-this-is-not-acceptable-for-you-change-classes

 

Carolyn Marie

[tracy_j]

I find this interesting in that there is such emphasis on pronouns. It is possibly that convention is different over there but from my experience (both when at school and occasionally working in them since) it is normally names that are used and seldom pronouns (whether it be surname or first name). In that way, at least here, it is likely such a confrontation could be easily avoided even with someone with strong beliefs.

 

Tracy

[AnnaD]

i dont see why they cant use the correct pronouns, its not difficult

[Carolyn Marie]

I recently attended a lecture/training session at the museum I volunteer at.  The lecture was given by a 40-something admin and scientist.  Her first slide identified her, and listed her preferred pronouns.  Afterward someone asked me if that is normal practice, and I said it is becoming more frequent all the time, especially among academics and professionals, in many different situations.

 

That's really good, as it gets people used to seeing it, even among cis-folk.  In this way, LGBT folk become less stigmatized, and less the exception.

 

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

15 hours ago, tracy_j said:

I find this interesting in that there is such emphasis on pronouns

 

Especially in the "Bible Belt"/Conservative areas here where Trans are only thought to be a fantasy or a perversion of a "sinner" the idea is that GOOD religious people will call them "what G made them" and not what the devil has put in their minds.  For the GOOD person to call them by their gender pronouns puts the GOOD person into sin with the Trans person.  Some of the GOOD people do stand a chance (not really large) of getting kicked out of their neighborhood church if it is found out that they did not stand firm in the faith even against threats from their bosses of being fired.  Being "counseled" will give them points of faith for having been persecuted and "standing firm" if it does not change their minds. 

[tracy_j]

A bit of a twister for me Vicky, but I get the gist. Over here that would be less of an issue, although has occurred in some of the more religious schools. I think my thoughts attune more directly with most of the population here in attempting avoiding confrontation as being no real issue rather than even the presenting of pronouns, as Carolyn examples, which does actually raise the issue in the minds of some.

 

On a wider front, there is becoming very much increasing resentment here of minority groups getting dis-proportionate representation. That is working against, in this example, trans people, turning what may only be a tricky situation into a confrontation in the minds of people who would otherwise live and let live. In this the press, both good and bad, are probably hindering as much as helping.

 

Tracy