A recent decision by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is an encouraging reminder that our constitutional freedoms are still worth defending—and can still be upheld in court.
In Wood v. Florida Department of Education, the court ruled in favor of a 2023 state law that prohibits public school employees from requiring others to use personal titles or pronouns that do not align with biological sex. The case involved a Florida math teacher who identifies as a woman and demanded to be referred to with feminine pronouns and the title “Ms.” The court concluded that the State of Florida could prohibit the teacher from requiring others to use pronouns that would not align with her sex at birth.
Though this case was not part of our legal docket, it represents the very freedoms the National Center for Life and Liberty exists to defend—especially the right to speak truth without being compelled to conform to imposed ideology.
Why It Matters
The First Amendment protects the freedom to speak—and the freedom not to. In today’s climate, Americans face increasing pressure to participate in ideological movements, even when those beliefs contradict their faith, biology, or conscience.
This case underscores what NCLL defends every day: the rights of individuals, churches, and ministries to live and speak in accordance with biblical truth. No teacher, pastor, student, or citizen should be punished for respectfully declining to speak a falsehood.
Our Mission in This Cultural Moment
This court decision is a reminder that the Constitution still matters. But it also signals that these victories are hard-won and often temporary without ongoing vigilance.
America’s founders risked everything to secure these liberties. Now it’s our turn to preserve them for our children and grandchildren. At NCLL, we will continue standing in the legal gap for those who refuse to compromise truth in the face of cultural pressure.
Let’s remain watchful, courageous, and committed. The need is urgent. The time is now.
