A pensioner has been fired from a volunteer position at the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society because she “asked what pronouns meant”.

Frank Itkoff, 90, from California, had been volunteering with the charity for over 60 years, however, she was gobsmacked when bosses forced her to step down after an email exchange with colleagues regarding pronouns.

The 90-year-old was allegedly asked by an unnamed worker at the non-profit group to use her pronouns, however, Itkokk did not understand the request.

“I was confused. I didn’t know what it was and what it meant,” she said.

“Because it sounds like you are labelling for females, not males, if you are just putting in she/her,” she said during an interview with Libs of TikTok.

A couple of days later, Ikoff received an email accusing her of violating the charity’s guidelines on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion guidelines.

The Long Beach Lakewood division of the charity said: “Recently, a volunteer, Fran Itkoff, was asked to step away from her role because of statements that were viewed as not aligning with our policy of inclusion.

“Fran has been a valued member of our volunteer team for more than 60 years. We believe that our staff acted with the best of intentions and did their best to navigate a challenging issue.

“As an organisation, we are in a continued conversation about assuring that our diversity, equity and inclusion policies evolve in service of our mission, and will reach out to Fran in service of this goal.”

Many on social media have slammed the decision.

Julie Bindel, co-founder of the law reform group Justice for Women, said: “What has been done to this woman in the name of ‘progress’ is one of the sickest examples of this vile movement.”