When Florida public school teacher Saoirse Stone first started teaching, she thought it would be temporary. A lawyer by training, Stone, a trans woman and lesbian, discovered her true calling in the classroom during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I adored it. And I was good at it,” she said. “Teaching means everything to me. It’s not just a job, it’s a calling.”
But what began as a passion has become a struggle for survival. Facing ongoing indignities at work, restrictive book bans, and a wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation, Stone is preparing to leave Florida. With a GoFundMe campaign, she hopes to raise $15,000 by June to relocate to Maryland and continue teaching authentically.
The Classroom as a Calling
For Stone, the classroom has always been a space to connect students with history and literature on a personal level. “I taught the U.S. Constitution, speeches of Washington and Lincoln, but also voices of Tecumseh, Frederick Douglass, and Shirley Chisholm,” she explained. “It’s about inspiring students to look beyond the surface and find the story behind the story.”
Poetry, too, has been a cornerstone of her teaching. By contextualizing poets’ lives, Stone brings their words to life. “When a student connects with the feelings of someone separated from them by time and space, that’s pure magic,” she said. Students have discovered the work of Audre Lorde, Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, and more, leaving lasting impressions that Stone considers part of her legacy.
Stripped of Autonomy
Stone’s love for teaching collided with Florida’s anti-LGBTQ measures. To navigate the legal and professional risks, she has had to conceal her identity. “To ensure my safety, I forego using my chosen name at work,” she said. “I appear androgynous to avoid drawing attention. I’ve had to purge my classroom library of books that were deemed unacceptable, including works by James Baldwin and Margaret Atwood.”
Teaching students about poetry without acknowledging queer authors, she said, is nearly impossible. “To comply with these rules is to teach poorly. I must allow myself to be degraded and do a worse job as a teacher. It’s devastating.”
A Difficult Decision
Stone and her partner have been monitoring Florida legislation for years. This session’s proposed bills, including SB 1010, SB 1296, SB 1692, and others, signaled that staying was no longer safe or sustainable. Economic concerns added urgency: “Florida’s economy is terrible. We need help now, or next year it could be even worse.”
Maryland represents a chance to teach freely, openly, and safely. “I want to be somewhere I can be myself,” Emery said. “I want to maintain autonomy as an educator and build a local queer community.”
Support from Near and Far
The GoFundMe has seen encouraging progress. Notably, trans filmmaker Lilly Wachowski contributed, an act Stone described as inspiring. Former students also donated, showing the lasting impact of her teaching. “I never got to come out to those students directly, and yet there they were, helping me,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges, Stone remains optimistic. She hopes LGBTQ+ educators across the country will eventually be able to work safely and authentically. For now, every donation to the GoFundMe goes toward creating a safer, happier life for Stone and her partner, who promise to pay the support forward through teaching, community, and advocacy.
“I want people to know we don’t take this for granted,” Stone said. “Every bit of help materially improves our lives. We’ll give back in every way we can.”
Support the campaign here: GoFundMe
