A 90-year-old California woman was fired from her volunteer position with the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society because she “didn’t understand the pronouns,” despite previously winning multiple awards from the nonprofit organization.
Fran Itkoff had been volunteering for the MS Society, a nonprofit support group for multiple sclerosis patients, for 60 years before she was removed.
Although her dedication to the MS Society has been recognized over the years, the group recently forced her to resign after she questioned what pronouns meant.
‘I was confused. I didn’t know what it was or what it meant,” Itkoff said of her initial reaction when asked to use pronouns in her email signature.
Itkoff’s husband, a patient with MS, led the Long Beach Lakewood MS Support Group before he died 20 years ago, she said in an interview with TikTok’s libs.
Fran Itkoff, 90, 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
Itkoff volunteered for the MS Society, a nonprofit support group for multiple sclerosis patients, for 60 years before she was removed
Although her dedication to the MS Society has been recognized over the years, the group recently forced her to resign after she questioned what pronouns meant.
Itkoff took over her husband’s position and volunteered for the nonprofit for the next several decades until a representative recently contacted her.
The representative, who has not been named, reportedly asked Itkoff to use her pronouns, but she didn’t understand what it meant.
The 90-year-old woman said: ‘I had seen it on a few 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’re labeling women, not men, if you just mention she/her.”
A few days later, she received an email accusing her of violating the MS Society’s diversity, equality and inclusion guidelines.
“Unfortunately, based on the situation, we have made the difficult decision to have you step down from your volunteer role with immediate effect,” the email read.
Itkoff said, “I was completely shocked. I can’t believe… I had to read it a few times to see if I understood what she was saying.’
Elle Hamilton, Itkoff’s daughter, said, “To me it’s ironic because they say they’re inclusive, but they’re excluding a 90-year-old disabled woman who has been a volunteer for 60 years.”
“And literally the only goal was to help the MS patients and find a cure. That’s literally all she does,” Hamilton added.
Itkoff’s husband, an MS patient, led the Long Beach Lakewood MS support group before he died 20 years ago, she said in an interview with the Libs of TikTok
Itkoff took over her husband’s position and volunteered for the nonprofit for the next several decades until a representative recently contacted her
Itkoff’s interview has since gone viral on social media, with users tagging the organization and demanding comment and an apology.
One user wrote on
‘This is age discrimination, forced language and terribly disappointing. Is your business team aware of the message this sends to patients, donors, sponsors and of course the other 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 credit, and have a good conversation with the rep who let her go,” the user wrote.
Another person wrote: Not another dollar goes to the MS Society until they reinstate Fran Itkoff and publicly apologize for their abusive treatment of this 90 year old dedicated volunteer.”
DailyMail.com has contacted the MS Society for further information and comment.