A Ron Desantis-backed conservative activist is named in a civil rights complaint against a Florida college — after he misgendered an educator who used the pronouns ze/zir.
The Biden administration’s Department of Education opened an investigation into New College of Florida after it received complaints last month alleging the school board had created a “hostile” environment for transgender and disabled students and staff.
The complaint, received by DOE’s Office of Civil Rights on Aug. 24, names Board of Trustees member Christopher Rufo, who was appointed to the New College board by DeSantis in January.
It alleges that Rufo, who is also a Manhattan Institute fellow, targeted certain students, parents and staff with “sexist and transphobic taunts.”
In one incident, the right-wing activist allegedly “taunted and misgendered” New College’s Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence (OOIE) director, Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez, after “she was summarily fired,” according to a copy of the complaint. shared by Rufo on his Substack.
Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez, director of OOIE Kolej Baru, was allegedly mocked by Rufo after being dismissed from school. Facebook
Ze is a personal pronoun, which is a form of personal pronoun preferred by some non-binary individuals who don’t feel conventional pronouns — including they/them — accurately represent their gender identity.
In a March post to X, formerly known as Twitter, Rufo shared that his colleague had preferred pronouns before referring to zir “he” and “her” in the next sentence.
“New College of Florida has fired its former DEI director, Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez (“ze/zir”), after abolishing her position,” Rufo wrote.
“Rosario-Hernandez slammed me in the Washington Post, but I wish him the best of luck and hope he uses the opportunity to develop useful skills.”
In a March post to X, formerly known as Twitter, Rufo shared that his colleague had preferred pronouns before referring to zir “he” and “her” in the next sentence.ZUMAPRESS.com
Rufo is also named in the complaint as allegedly stating that LGBTQ+ people have a “synthetic sexual political identity” and that transgender people have “personal psychopathology.”
“Trustee Rufo mocked transgender students, called New College students mentally ill, and blamed their mothers,” the complaint said.
A host of other “hostilities” against marginalized groups at the New College were cited in the complaint, including the removal of gender-neutral bathroom signs and the repeal of the college’s diversity program.
The board was also accused of “open hostility toward New College students, faculty and staff on the basis of race, sex, religion, and disability.”
“The New College of Florida has fired its former DEI director, Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez (“ze/zir”), after eliminating her department,” Rufo wrote on X.LinkedIn
Rufo slammed the investigation on Friday, insisting the allegations had no merit and would not make it through a formal investigation.
“This is a brazen attempt to subvert New College’s democratic governance and reinforce left-wing ideological programs under the guise of civil rights legislation,” he wrote in the Substack newsletter.
“The Biden administration has shown repeatedly that it is willing to weaponize the tools of federal law enforcement against school board parents and other conservative reformers.”
The Post has reached out to New Schools and the US Department of Education.
DeSantis appointed Rufo and six other conservatives to the New College board in January as part of an effort to purge critical race theory and “woke” ideology from state schools.AP
DeSantis appointed Rufo and six other conservatives to the New College board in January as part of an effort to purge critical race theory and “woke” ideology from state schools.
At the time, the presidential candidate said he hoped to shape the small liberal arts school into the “Hillsdale College of the South,” a private conservative Christian school in Michigan.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
