The Wisconsin English teacher, Jordan Cernek, argues in the suit that the district violated his freedom of religion and free speech in mandating the use of the students' preferred names and pronouns.

The Wisconsin English teacher, Jordan Cernek, argues in the suit that the district violated his freedom of religion and free speech in mandating the use of the students’ preferred names and pronouns.

A high school English teacher is suing a Wisconsin school district, alleging it did not renew his contract last year because he refused to use the preferred names of two transgender students.

Jordan Cernek’s federal lawsuit alleges the Argyle School District violated his constitutional and civil rights to be free of religious discrimination and to be able to express himself according to his religious beliefs when it did not renew his contract because he refused to abide by a requirement that teachers use the names or pronouns requested by students.

  • flicker@lemmy.world
    822·
    4 months ago

    I’m not trans.

    I hate my legal name. I will change it when I’m ready to do the paperwork. Until then, everyone calls me the name I prefer.

    I would have been a thorn in this teacher’s side. I’m not answering to that name, asshole. I’m not writing it on any documents. I’m allowed to tell you what to call me for whatever reason I want. My mother’s best friend, who I was named for, was an abusive fucking cunt to me and every time you say her name I’m reminded of her.

    What a douche. Stop policing names. The only names worth policing are the ones that are remarkably dumb.

    • Itsamelemmy@lemmy.zipEnglish
      152·
      4 months ago

      Probably wouldn’t have a problem calling Michael Mike. Would they have a problem calling someone by their birth name if it didn’t follow traditional gender norms? (I knew a girl named Michael)

    • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
      2·
      4 months ago

      I’m reminded of the story of a woman who found out a co-worker was trans and insisted on calling them by their birth-name in order to “honor their mother” despite being told by supervisors and HR not to.
      This same woman was married and got very upset when called by her maiden name.

      She did not see the contradiction.

      • flicker@lemmy.world
        2·
        4 months ago

        Every once in a while I’m confronted with something like this and I have to remind myself… lots of very stupid people in the world.

    • primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world
      211·
      4 months ago

      nah. I think there’s room. religious shit should be banned from public use (as in, use by public institutions) , and I don’t think we should have a robert e lee or nathan B forest high school any more than we should have an erwin rommel elementary or a reinhardt heidrich middle school.