House Democrats unveiled proposed changes to the House rules on Friday, including the elimination of all "gendered" language and to make permanent the recently established House "Office of Diversity and Inclusion."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern (D-Mass.) claimed that "changing pronouns and familial relationships in the House rules to be gender neutral" are necessary changes meant to "honor all gender identities."
The proposed changes would establish "gender-inclusive" language in the House rules by eliminating "gendered" language.
Instead of words like "father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, grandson, or granddaughter," the proposed rules say the House should use language like "parent, child, sibling, parent's sibling, first cousin, sibling's child, spouse, parent-in-law, child-in-law, sibling-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, stepsibling, half-sibling, or grandchild."
The proposed rules also demand the following changes:
- "Seafarers" instead of "seamen"
- "Chair" instead of "chairman"
- "Resign" instead of "submit his or her resignation"
- "Such Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner serves" instead of "he or she serves"
- "Such Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner holds" instead of "he or she holds"
- "Themselves" instead of "himself" or "herself"
"Thanks to the leadership of Chairman McGovern and our Members, 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," Pelosi said in a statement.
The rules will be voted on after the 117th Congress is sworn in on Sunday.
In response, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) mocked the proposed changes.
"This is stupid. Signed, - A father, son, and brother," McCarthy tweeted.