TAMPA, Fla. — This week, a federal judge ruled a transgender Hillsborough County teacher's First Amendment rights were violated over a Florida law restricting pronoun use.
Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a preliminary injunction, blocking state education officials from enforcing a law requiring Katie Wood to use pronouns that align with her sex assigned at birth.
"I'm really thankful to have a small win because it's certainly not been easy," Wood, a math teacher at Lennard High School, said.
However, the judge's ruling only applies to Wood, not statewide.
“Once again, the state of Florida has a First Amendment problem,” Walker wrote. “Of late, it has happened so frequently, some might say you can set your clock by it.”
Wood's legal team from the Southern Poverty Law Center said they are hopeful the case could now be won before the Eleventh Circuit, which would bind all the courts in Florida and may apply to all teachers statewide.
"I think it was really gratifying," Sam Boyd, Southern Poverty Law Center senior supervising attorney, said. "It affirmed in very strong language that Katie does have a right to be herself in school and the state of Florida can't take that away from her."
The law, which passed last year, can strip educators of their certifications and fine school districts if teachers violate it.
"We are going to remain a refuge of sanity and a citadel of normalcy," Gov. Ron DeSantis said during the bill signing last year.
The state of Florida has the opportunity to appeal.
Attorneys for the Florida Department of Education and other defendants asked Walker to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the Legislature has discretion to “promote the state’s pedagogical goals and vindicate parental rights.”
Walker cited a 2022 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that ruled in favor of a public school football coach who was fired for praying on the field.
“Like Coach Kennedy’s professed faith, Ms. Wood’s preferred pronouns and title are uniquely personal to her,” Walker wrote. “In the same sense that Coach Kennedy’s public prayers identify him as a man of faith, Ms. Wood’s expression of her preferred title and pronouns identify her as a woman.”
Wood, who said she's dreamt of becoming a teacher since she was 8 years old, told 10 Tampa Bay she just wants the opportunity to teach without having to hide who she is.
"My passion is with kids," Wood said.
The Florida Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment as of Friday.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.