The controversy surrounding Jessica Norton, a Florida school employee and the mother of a transgender student, has reached a critical point. Despite a grueling 239-day investigation, Norton will keep her job, although she faces a suspension and reassignment. The investigation centered around Norton’s support for her daughter, who plays on a girls’ volleyball team, leading to accusations of violating Florida’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.
“There is no way around it, I’m being punished because I am the parent of a transgender student,” Norton stated. She emphasized that her actions were solely as a parent, not in her capacity as an employee of Monarch High School. This distinction did little to sway the Broward County School Board, which suspended Norton without pay for ten days and reassigned her to a position where she does not handle student information.
The investigation was initiated following an anonymous complaint to School Board member Daniel Foganholi, a DeSantis appointee. This scrutiny has resulted in the reassignment of several school employees, but Norton was the only one facing termination. The Human Rights Campaign provided legal assistance, arguing that the board’s decision was a clear retaliation against Norton for supporting her daughter.
Human Rights Campaign Litigation Strategist Jason Starr criticized the school board’s actions. “The Broward County School District has not only abdicated its responsibility to the safety and well-being of Mrs. Norton’s daughter, but has retaliated against an employee simply for advocating for their child,” he said. Starr highlighted the erosion of LGBTQ+ inclusive policies within the district, making it unsafe for LGBTQ+ students and families.
Norton and her husband, Gary, had previously filed a federal lawsuit challenging Florida’s trans sports ban, although the law was upheld. The family’s ordeal has ignited further activism, with LGBTQ+ advocacy groups mobilizing to reclaim school board seats from DeSantis appointees. The Nortons’ case underscores the ongoing struggles faced by transgender students and their families in navigating discriminatory laws and policies.
