Florida Teacher Faces Backlash for Embracing Gender-Neutral ‘Mx.’ Prefix in Classroom

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has taken aim at a teacher in Florida for the use of the “Mx.” prefix, a non-traditional title, as revealed on Wednesday.

Uthmeier used social media to disclose that the teacher in question is employed at Talbot Elementary School, located in Gainesville.

He accused the teacher of compelling both students and staff to use the “Mx.” prefix instead of more conventional titles like “Ms.” or “Mrs.”

Uthmeier asserted, “This action breaches Florida law and the policies of the Alachua County School District and needs to cease immediately.”

Uthmeier also shared a letter issued to the district school board claiming that the “Mx.” prefix — reportedly pronounced “mix” — was intended to obfuscate the teacher’s gender.

According to NBC News, the “Mx.” title acts as a gender-neutral alternative for teachers who don’t choose to identify with either gender.

However, Uthmeier explained that state policy prohibits teachers from using titles in school that don’t correspond to a person’s sex.

‘’Mx.’ is an ideologically laden term that seeks to make educational professionals and — most damning — children mouth support for nonsense,” the letter reads.

Just a few hours after Uthmeier’s announcement, though, Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas announced that the teacher had been placed on leave pending an investigation.

“The allegations are deeply troubling and ones I will not take lightly,” he wrote.

The policy in question stems back to 2023, when Florida state lawmakers passed a bill (HB 1069) that prohibits K-12 public teachers in the state from using certain language in schools.

The legislation itself aimed to crack down on what some state leaders dubbed “woke gender ideology” in schools.

Teachers who knowingly violate these rules face the potential revocation or suspension of their educator’s certificate, preventing them from being employed in Florida public schools.

Aside from pronouns, though, the new rules also restrict teachers from using nicknames or preferred names in classrooms without parental permission.

This isn’t the first time that Uthmeier has taken aim at an Alachua County teacher, though.

In August, he declared that a Gainesville High School teacher should potentially be barred from teaching in the state after a student was reportedly given a “Dictator” award.