Tulsi Gabbard slams 'woke' use of congressional language by says amen and a women

Former Democratic Congresswoman Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has spoken out about new rules in Congress that came into force on Monday banning certain gender-related language. 

Among the new rules, members of Congress are required to use ‘gender-inclusive language’. 

Democrats claim the changes will promote diversity and inclusion in the 117th Congress. The House approved the package Monday in a 217-206 vote on party lines. 

The change comes as a record number of LGBTQ lawmakers are joining Congress.

Although the rules do not prevent the use of gendered language, it does rename ‘official’ language. 

It sees ‘all gender identities honored by changing pronouns and familial relationships in the House rules to be gender neutral.’ 

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman, says that the rules essentially ignore the very existence of women.  

‘It’s the height of hypocrisy for people who claim to be the champions of rights for women to deny the biological existence of women,’ Gabbard said to Tucker Carlson on Monday night.

‘This recent rule change at the House voted and passed on today removes references to mothers and fathers, bothers and sisters and sons and daughters from congressional rules and administration, it’s mind blowing,’ she said.

The new rules change ‘seamen’ to ‘seafarers,’ ‘chairman’ to ‘chair’ and ‘submit his or her resignation’ to ‘resigns.’ 

References to fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives and in-laws are to be be changed to ‘parent, child, sibling, spouse, or parent-in-law,’ according to the resolution. 

Extended family members would be referred to as ‘child’s parent’ instead of aunt or uncle, stepparents, and siblings-in-law. 

‘It shows how out of touch with reality and the struggles of every day Americans people in Congress are. Also as their first act, this new Congress could have been to make sure that elderly Americans are able to get the COVID vaccine now along side front line healthcare workers. Instead of doing something that could help save people’s lives, they are choosing instead to say you can’t say mother and father in this congressional language. It’s astounding,’ Gabbard continued. 

Evidence of the new rules could already be heard during the opening prayer which saw the words ‘Amen and A-woman’ uttered by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. 

In the past, Congress operated under a binary rule that ‘words importing one gender include the other as well.’ 

‘Through months of consultation across our caucus and Congress, we have developed a rules package that makes the People’s House more accountable and responsive to all Americans,’ Pelosi wrote in the statement. 

The latest rules see a spectrum of gender identities being acknowledged as well as same-sex relationships.       

‘I don’t know how to explain what they think. It defies common sense. There is a biological distinction between men and women and boys and girls. It defies basic science,’ Gabbard said.

Several GOP lawmakers previously denounced the proposed change, including Rep. Kevin McCarthy from California, who called it ‘stupid.’ 

McCarthy previously supported the Defense of Marriage Act in 2011, which outlawed same-sex marriage.