Appeals Court to Hear Florida Teacher Pronoun Case

State and national teachers' unions are supporting a transgender teacher from Hillsborough County, Florida, in her legal challenge against a law requiring educators to use pronouns that correspond with the sex assigned at birth. The unions argue that this law violates the First Amendment rights of teacher Katie Wood by restricting her ability to express her identity. A district judge previously issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law's enforcement against Wood, which the state is appealing. The unions' brief highlights that the law specifically targets transgender educators and is part of a broader pattern of discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in Florida. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments regarding the injunction on September 24, a case that could have significant implications for transgender rights in education. The law is part of a series of measures from Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers that have raised concerns about the treatment of transgender individuals in the state.