The first reported instance of a Florida teacher losing their job over Florida House Bill 1069 was made public on Thursday, April 10. The Bill contains many different laws, but in this instance was applied because the teacher referred to a student by their preferred name without a parent’s permission.
Across the country, laws have been passed that aim to place determinations around the LGBTQ+ decisions for a child in the hands of parents, not teachers. However, many critics have long held that it is unnecessarily targeting vulnerable youth and causing harm and harassment to the LGBTQ+ community.
Florida is One of Many States to Push Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
In 2023, Florida passed legislation under House Bill 1069. According to the bill, the goal is to aim at what they call woke gender ideology, a term that has made headlines in the news as conservative talking points. The law is extensive but includes wording that bans school staff from using “personal titles or pronouns that do not align with the person’s sex”. The Board of Education addressed the law by requiring Florida teachers to get parental consent for any preferences the child may indicate.
Florida led the push towards this type of legislation, but other Republican controlled states followed suit with legislation of their own, and 13 separate states have thus far adopted similar laws. The current administration under President Trump has made it a focus of the first 100 days to support these pieces of legislation. An executive order was signed on his first day in office, which in part read, “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.” The administration has also investigated the states of California and Maine for their laws regarding LGBTQ+ policies in schools.
Florida Teacher First To Be Dismissed From Her Position
Florida teacher Melissa Calhoun did not have her contract renewed by the Brevard County School District after the administration found out she had referred to one of her students by their chosen name as opposed to their birth name, without parental consent. Calhoun admitted to doing so, which prompted the district to write a letter of reprimand and state that her contract will not be renewed after the school year until “the issue is resolved with the state”. The district’s stance is that the behavior was a direct violation of state and department laws.
The decision has caused backlash in the community. By Thursday morning, over 10,000 people had signed a petition asking the district to reinstate Calhoun’s contract. According to the petition, the Florida teacher is “punished merely for showing respect to a student’s choices … she is an embodiment of what proper education should be: inclusive, understanding, and respectful of individuality.”
Members of the community have also advocated for the Florida teacher to the school board. “There was no harm, no threat to safety, no malicious intent. Just a teacher trying to connect with a student. And for that, her contract was not renewed, despite her strong dedication and years of service,” Kristine Staniec, who works at the school, stated.
Amy Roub, a parent in Brevard County and volunteer with Florida’s chapter of Defense of Democracy, added, “I think people have just had enough of this from the school board. They’ve gone too far this time. She is a beloved teacher, a teacher who changed her students’ lives.”
According to Brian Dittmeier, director of public policy for GLSEN, “Not only is this a direct attack on educators who support trans students, but it also is an indicator of the bureaucratic overreach of anti-transgender policy. A teacher could potentially be fired for calling a student Tim instead of Timothy.”
Despite the community support and backlash, the district has not changed its stance. Florida teacher Calhoun may have to go through the state to earn back her contract. In the meantime, LGBTQ+ advocates continue to fight the legislation in these states, hoping to advocate for more inclusive environments that allow students to express themselves, while opponents stand strong that parents have full rights over their child’s decisions. If more information comes forward regarding Calhoun’s status, the story will be updated.
