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On Tuesday, CNN National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem argued that any discussion over the shooter’s transgender identity is a "distraction" from the real issue of the crime, guns.
A former teacher's federal lawsuit field against Missouri's Fort Osage School District alleges they were punished and denied a job opportunity for using gender-neutral pronouns in the classroom.
Olivia Grace Jackson, who uses she/her/they/them pronouns, filed the suit on March 21, alleging the district retaliated against them for their pronoun preference by removing them from teaching assignments and ultimately rescinding a full-time employment opportunity because of their preferences.
Jackson also alleges their mentor discriminated against them for the preference and the district disapproved of their move to honor requests of non-binary students by similarly using their preferred pronouns in the classroom.
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LGBTQ person holds pins about gender pronouns on the University of Wyoming campus on August 13, 2022. (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) ((Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images))
"After being approached by several students who also identified as non-binary, Mx. Jackson honored those requests and utilized gender neutral pronouns for these students, as instructed by their college curriculum," the lawsuit reads.
"In response to these acts, the District: (a) removed Mx. Jackson from all student teaching and conducting assignments (including their ‘capstone’ assignment conducting the Fort Osage choir); (b) rejected Mx. Jackson’s employment at an elementary school within the District; and (c) canceled their previously scheduled substitute teaching assignment," the docket continued.
Woman holding sign with gender pronouns and symbols. (iStock)
Jackson, a vocal music education student at the University of Missouri–Columbia, formerly taught at two of the district's schools – an elementary school and a high school – as a requirement for graduation, according to multiple outlets.
Jackson's lawsuit specifically alleges the district violated their Title VII, Title IX, First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights, writing in part that they "suffered a loss of employment opportunities, a loss of income, and severe emotional distress" as a result of the alleged discriminatory practices.
Buttons with the "they, them, theirs" pronouns are displayed during the ClexaCon 2021 convention at the Tropicana Las Vegas on October 09, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images) ( (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images))
Jackson seeks "declaratory relief, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs" from the defendant.
Fox News Digital received the following response from the district's director of public relations.
"The Complaint in this matter contains numerous inaccuracies and mistruths—both as to individuals mentioned and as to the Fort Osage R-1 School District. We will vigorously defend against this lawsuit and address the substance of those inaccuracies and mistruths in our pleadings. The District is an equal opportunity employer and makes decisions about the hiring of teachers based on their ability to serve our students, regardless of their gender or gender identity."
