A transgender teacher says she has no choice but to leave Florida because state laws mean she “can’t even defend” herself in the classroom. Saoirse Stone, a 32-year-old high school English teacher in Orlando, says new restrictions mean she cannot use pronouns that match her gender identity and must stay silent if students deliberately misgender her. “If I do that, I could have my teaching certificate revoked,” she told The Advocate. “I can’t even speak up for myself. I can’t defend myself.” The laws were introduced under Florida governor Ron DeSantis, including the controversial Parental Rights in Education Act, which restricts how sexual orientation and gender identity can be discussed in schools. Stone, who began transitioning in 2022, says she now constantly has to self-police what she says in class out of fear it could cost her job. “I’m constantly thinking: is this going to be the thing that gets me on Fox News and gets my teaching certificate revoked?” Despite loving teachi...