Gender-Neutral Language in Policies

City Councilmembers in Oakland are proposing a resolution that would make all city laws, policies and communications include gender-inclusive and gender-neutral language. One of the Councilmembers, Barbara Parker, stated, “Nonbinary, transgender, pangender, intersex, genderqueer, agender, two-spirit, and other people who may fall somewhere outside of the traditional conceptions of strictly male or female have every right to see themselves reflected in the laws and policies that govern them. LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights, and civil rights.”

The House recently approved the bill to make the Department Veteran Affairs’ motto gender-neutral. The original quote was by President Lincoln and stated, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” The new motto will read, “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those ‘who shall have borne the battle’ and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”

The United States Navy recently changed their SEAL Ethos from gendered terms to gender-neutral ones. The previously mentioned “elite brotherhood of sailors” will be changed to an “elite group of maritime warriors.” A spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Command stated, “The previous versions of the SEAL Ethos and SWCC Creed were written prior to the law allowing women to serve as operators in Naval Special Warfare.” Meanwhile, the Young Social Democrats of Estonia have been advocating for a gender neutral definition of marriage in their country’s constitution. 

Multiple articles discussed Japanese Airline “JAL” and their new policy to address passengers in a gender-neutral manner. A spokesperson from the airline stated that JAL, “will abolish expressions that based on (two types of) sex and use gender-friendly expression,” such as “good morning” and “good evening”.