Wyoming Lawmaker Criticizes Misgendering After Supporting Anti-Pronoun Legislation

At a Wyoming legislature session, something interesting happened that spotlighted contradictions in recent pronoun-related laws. A male legislator found himself in a bit awkward situation when a constituent got his gender wrong during a testimony.

Britt Borill from Casper showed up at a Wyoming Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. She was there about a bill dealing with transgender rights, and right at kickoff, she mistakenly called state Senator Tim French, a Republican who chaired that session, "Madame Chairman."

The irony in legislative speech laws

As she started her testimony, Borill said, "Hello, thank you, Madam Chairman. As you all voted overwhelmingly yes—" That was when Senator French interrupted.

"You can call me Mr. Chairman if you want," he said.

Borill didn't miss a beat. "Well, I cannot be compelled you use your preferred pronouns as you have all voted," she shot back. She was pointing out a recently passed law, S.F. 77, or "Compelled Speech Is Not Free Speech" Act, which says state employees don't have use someone else preferred pronouns.

Highlighting legislative contradictions

Senator French was clearly surprised and shot back, "Wait a minute, we're talking about preferred pronouns… I prefer being called Chairman French. That's my preferred pronoun," expressing how he felt about being misgendered.

Borill, with a calm demeanor, pointed out, "I know, and you all voted that preferred pronouns cannot be compelled speech in S.F. 77," before she continued her testimony.

This moment really shines a light on how complex and tricky recent laws on speech and pronouns can be. Now with S.F. 77 passed in both Wyoming's House and Senate, it's waiting on further review thanks House amendments.

Considering broader legislative context

In her testimony, Borill touched on more than just this law. There was another bill, H.B. 32, known as "What Is a Woman" Act. This law wants define sex as simply male or female based on birth biology, ignoring gender identity.

"This bill not only contradicts biological facts—intersex and two-spirit people have always existed—but it endangers women through government overreach," Borill said.

She voiced concerns about what could happen, "The only logical enforcement mechanism involves gross invasions privacy. If women do not present as female enough, could they be required undergo a genital inspection just use bathroom or gym locker room?"

Borill's words brought up fears that such laws could lead invasive, discriminatory practices, hitting hard on marginalized groups like transgender and gender-non-conforming folks.

Refocusing legislative priorities

Borill wrapped up by critiquing what seems like misplaced legislative focus, "I'm tracking more than a dozen bills that this body heard stripping rights and access away from women and trans people, rather than focusing on issues that actually matter Wyoming citizens."

She urged lawmakers refocus: "This legislative session has been filled with bills more concerned with engaging in culture wars than tackling difficult work you were all sent here do, govern effectively all Wyoming." Her message was clear: "So I ask you please stop this hateful rampage put women and trans people deliberate physical danger."

This exchange, along with its legislative context, has kickstarted discussions around government's role in language regulation and what it means rights transgender and non-binary people.

This situation serves as a reminder ongoing cultural and political gender identity battles, and stresses importance understanding and respecting individual pronouns and identities.

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Looking more resources discussions on gender identity? Check out related articles like “Why Some People Use She/They & He/They Pronouns” and our explainer on gender-neutral pronouns.