Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has officially introduced gender-neutral language in newly-proposed rules for Congress.
According to a recent report by The Hill, newly-reelected Pelosi and Rules Committee Chairman James P. McGovern introduced a new code of conduct which features a number of changes to the rules of address, in a bid to promote diversity.
Take a look at this news report on the new rules:If voted in the new rules would change the current binary terms of address when referencing gender, personal pronouns, and familial terms, and encourage Congress to substitute them for gender-neutral variations instead.
For example, per the New York Post, terms such as mother and father, son and daughter, and aunt and uncle will be eliminated.
In their place, only gender-neutral terms such as "parent", "child", "sibling" and "parent’s sibling" would be allowed in the text of congressional rules.
Not only that, but the rules package would also change the name of several important congressional and federal titles.
For instance, the Office of the Whistleblower Ombudsman would instead become the Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds.
Commenting on the sweeping reforms in an official statement, Pelosi said:
"Democrats have crafted a package of unprecedented, bold reforms, which will make the House more accountable, transparent, and effective in our work to meet the needs of the American people."
"These future-focused proposals reflect our priorities as a Caucus and as a Country: including crushing the coronavirus, addressing economic disparity, combating the climate crisis, advancing inclusion, and promoting integrity in government."
Meanwhile, McGovern stated: "This proposal also shines a light on those struggling to get ahead in America today and ensures we remain focused on the most pressing issues facing our nation.
"I want to thank my colleagues, outside stakeholders, and all those who helped us develop these transformative ideas."
On social media, the proposed changes have been divisive, with some Twitter users applauding the sensitivity shown by congress: Meanwhile, others have decried what they perceive to be obstructive virtue signaling:This move comes just a few days after Pelosi's home in San Francisco was vandalized.
According to a report by ABC News, the phrases "$2K", "Cancel rent!" and "We want everything" were spray-painted on the walls of her house and her garage door. The as-yet-unapprehended vandals also left a pig's head outside on the driveway along with fake blood.
