As the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars rage on and illegal aliens cross into the U.S. through its porous border with Mexico at alarming rates, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently carved out time to warn State Department staffers against “misgendering,” National Review reported.
What are the details?
Blinken told employees in a Feb. 5 cable that assuming gender based on appearance “can be problematic” and sends a “harmful, exclusionary message” and to avoid using terms such as “mother/father,” “son/daughter,” and “husband/wife,” National Review said, adding that it obtained the text of the “Modeling DEIA: Gender Identity Best Practices” cable and confirmed its authenticity.
The outlet said Blinken’s cable suggested that employees state their pronouns in email signatures and when introducing themselves in meetings “to show respect and avoid misunderstandings.”
“Commonly used pronouns could include she/her, he/him, they/them, and ze/zir,” the cable noted, according to National Review. “This is a personal decision that should be respected.”
More from the outlet:
The cable also instructs staffers to use “gender-neutral language whenever possible.” Problematic terms like “manpower,” “you guys,” “ladies and gentlemen” and even “mother/father,” “son/daughter,” and “husband/wife” should be avoided. Better to use terms like “labor force,” “everyone,” “folks,” “you all,” and “parent,” “child,” and “spouse” or partner” instead, the cable says.
“When speaking, avoid using phrases like ‘brave men and women on the front lines,’” the cable adds, suggesting that staffers “use more specific language such as ‘brave first responders,’ ‘brave soldiers,’ or ‘brave DS agents.’”
The cable also instructs State Department employees not to “pressure someone to state their pronouns,” to handle mistakes with “subtlety and grace,” and to remember that gender identity “may be fluid, so remain attuned to and supportive of shifts in pronouns.”
National Review said the State Department replied to its request for comment saying that it doesn’t comment on leaked internal documents.
How are folks reacting?
Reader comments underneath National Review’s report weren’t exactly sympathetic to the sentiments expressed in Blinken’s cable:
- “Blinken’s pronouns are nitwit/moron,” one commenter wrote.
- “I’m left to wonder what any of this has to do with foreign policy,” another commenter pointed out. “Tell the ninnies to show up for work, and leave their sex lives at home for the day. Or find another job.”
- “The left is all about social deconstruction,” another commenter opined.
- “IDIOT. And not even remotely useful,” another commenter declared.
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