A 90-year-old California woman was fired from her volunteer position with the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society because she “didn’t understand pronouns,” despite previously winning multiple awards from the nonprofit group.
Fran Itkoff had volunteered at the MS Society, a nonprofit support group for multiple sclerosis patients, for 60 years before she was fired.
Although her dedication to the MS Society had been recognized over the years, the group recently forced her to resign after she asked what the pronouns meant.
‘I was confused. He didn’t know what it was or what it meant,” Itkoff said of his first reaction to being asked to use pronouns in his email signature.
Itkoff’s husband, an MS patient, ran the Long Beach Lakewood MS support group before he died 20 years ago, she said in an interview with TikTok Libs.
Fran Itkoff, 90, was fired from her volunteer position at the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society because she “didn’t understand pronouns,” despite previously winning multiple awards from the nonprofit group.
Itkoff had volunteered with the MS Society, a nonprofit support group for multiple sclerosis patients, for 60 years before she was retired.
Although her dedication to the MS Society had been recognized over the years, the group recently forced her to resign after it asked what the pronouns meant.
Itkoff took over her husband’s position and volunteered for the nonprofit for the next two decades until she was recently approached by a representative.
The representative, who has not been named, reportedly asked Itkoff to use his pronouns, but she did not understand what they meant.
The 90-year-old said: “I had seen it in a couple of letters that came after the person’s name.” But she didn’t know what it meant.
“So when I finally talked to her, I asked her what that meant… And she said that meant they were all-inclusive, which didn’t make sense to me.”
“Because it seems like you’re labeling women, not men, if you’re just putting she/her.”
A few days later, she received an email accusing her of violating the MS Society’s diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines.
“Unfortunately, based on the situation, we have made the difficult decision for you to resign from your volunteer position, effective immediately,” the email reads.
Itkoff said: ‘I was completely shocked. I can’t believe it… I had to read it a couple of times to see if I understood what it said.’
Elle Hamilton, Itkoff’s daughter, said: “It’s ironic to me, because they say they’re inclusive, but they exclude a 90-year-old disabled woman who has been a volunteer for 60 years.”
‘And literally the only purpose was to help MS patients and find a cure. “That’s literally all he does,” Hamilton added.
Itkoff’s husband, an MS patient, ran the Long Beach Lakewood MS support group before he passed away 20 years ago, she said in an interview with Libs of TikTok.
Itkoff took over her husband’s position and volunteered for the nonprofit for the next several decades until she was recently approached by a representative.
The interview with Itkoff has since gone viral on social media, with users tagging the organization and demanding comment and an apology.
One user wrote on the comunications?
‘This is ageism, forced speech and terribly disappointing. Is your corporate team aware of the message this sends to patients, donors, sponsors and, of course, remaining volunteers?
‘MS is not a political issue. Don’t let yourself become one for the sake of “inclusion.” Take care of Fran Itkoff. Apologize, reinstate her with honors and have a good chat with the representative who fired her,’ the user wrote.
Another person wrote: Not one more dollar for the MS Society until they reinstate Fran Itkoff and publicly apologize for the abusive treatment of this dedicated 90-year-old volunteer.’
DailyMail.com has contacted the MS Society for further information and comment.