A 90-year-old woman from California was fired from her 60-year volunteering position at the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society because she “did not understand pronouns.”
Fran Itkoff was fired despite previously winning multiple awards from the nonprofit group.
While the nonprofit recognized the Woman’s dedication to the MS Society, the group forced her to step down after she dared to ask what pronouns meant.
“I was confused. I didn’t know what it was and what it meant,” Itkoff said.
Itkoff’s husband, an MS patient, was running the Long Beach Lakewood MS support group before he died 20 years ago.
Itkoff took over her husband’s position at the nonprofit organization for the next couple of decades.
The representative reportedly asked Itkoff to use her pronouns, but she did not understand what it meant.
The 90-year-old Woman said:
“I had seen it on a couple of letters that had come in after the person’s name. But I didn’t know what it meant.'”
“So when I finally talked to her, I asked what it meant… And she said that meant they were all inclusive, which didn’t make sense to me.”
“Because it sounds like you are labeling for females, not males, if you are just putting in she/her.”
Just days later, Itkoff received an email accusing her of violating the MS Society’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion guidelines.
The email read:
“Unfortunately, based on the situation, we have made the difficult decision to have you step down from your volunteer position, effective immediately.” the email reads.
Itkoff said:
“I was completely shocked. I can’t believe… I had to read it a couple of times to see if I’m getting what she said.”
Elle Hamilton, Itkoff’s daughter, said:
“To me it’s ironic, because they are saying they are inclusive, but they are excluding a 90-year-old disabled woman who has volunteered for 60 years.”
“And literally the sole purpose was to help the MS patients and find a cure. That’s literally all she does,” Hamilton added.
Watch
BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: National MS Society makes a 90-year-old volunteer step down because she wasn’t “inclusive” enough. Her crime was asking what pronouns are after she was required to start using them.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 8, 2024
Fran was a volunteer for 60 years and her late husband had MS.
Full… pic.twitter.com/6y25svZ9du
The Daily Mail reported:
“The interview with Itkoff has since gone viral on social media, with users tagging the organization and demanding comments and an apology.”
One user wrote on X:
“Are you aware that Fran Itkoff, age 90, a Long Beach, CA, volunteer of 60 years(!) was let go of her duties because she did not understand the reason for the new fashion of adding one’s pronouns to communications?”
“This is ageism, compelled speech, and awfully disappointing. Is your corporate team aware of the message this sends out to patients, donors, sponsors, and of course, your remaining volunteers?”
“MS is not a political issue. Don’t let it become one for the sake of “inclusivity.” Take care of Fran Itkoff. Apologize, reinstate her with honors, and have a good chat with the representative who let her go,” the user wrote.
Another person wrote:
“Not another dollar to the MS Society until they reinstate Fran Itkoff and publicly apologize for their abusive treatment of this 90-year-old dedicated volunteer.”
READ: Christian Couple Denied Right to Foster Child after Refusing to Respect Trans Pronouns
