Exclusively obtained by The Daily Wire, a guide to “inclusive language” published by the Department of Interior advises bureaucrats to stay away from gendered words like husband and son—or even daughter. It also suggests using they/them pronouns for people, so as not to assume anything about gender.
Outlined in a 24-page document titled the U.S. Department of the Interior Inclusive Language Guide released this month is advice on recommended terms to use when discussing gender and sexuality, all “for official use only.”
It is part of a larger sweep across the federal agencies under President Joe Biden to push diversity, equity and inclusion hubs.
Titled “Using Identity-First Language,” another section of the guide suggests terms such as “a person who is blind” over “blind person,” and “a child with an amputation” rather than“amputee.” It also cautions against guessing someone’s gender, and instead suggests using the pronouns “they/them.”
It reads: “When referring to people for whom pronouns have not been provided or when the gender of a generic person is otherwise irrelevant within that context, use their name; or he/she where appropriate.,.or they as an alternative dual-gendered singular construct to avoid making assumptions about an individual’s sexual orientation. Also use for example ‘they’, them, their For a less formal writing, such as emails with pronouns used this would be to avoid and short circuit the gender inclusiveness portion of it by using plural pronoun.
Both guides preferred the plural pronoun over “he or she” and to avoid conveying a binary gender system that ignores non-binary persons. It also suggests speaking with groups of people in the crowd as “hey team” instead of “ladies and gents.”
The guide also suggests steering clear of binary terminology, such as “opposite sex” and opposite gender,” because it leaves out people who don’t identify with those designations. It also advises against the use of ‘preferred pronouns’ because it suggests that being transgender or GNC is a preference. It instead recommends the use of “pronouns” or “identified pronouns. The guide also offers a suggestion of getting rid of gendered honorifics, advising “Burn No Mr., Ms.
The manual also includes replacing words and phrases such as:
- Parent’s sibling: Aunt/Uncle
- “Male” with “all genders”
- “Ladies” with “everyone”
- “Gay” with “LGBTQIA+ person”
- Change “Transgender” to “transgender person.”
- Replace “opposite sex” with “different sex”.
The Department of the Interior did not respond to a request for comment.
The guidance is part of a broader push for inclusion within the agency that includes lessons about “LGBTQ American Sign Language” as well as featuring a documentary called, “Diving for Rays: A Queer Conservationist’s Story,” in observance to mark one such day last month — days like “Transgender Day of Visibility.”
Prior to his work at the White House, Tyler Cherry served as communications director for the DOI. Cherry has a history of polarizing posts on social media including remarks regarding policing and immigration enforcement. He has also said that he supports abolishing ICE, and otherwise been critical of white people or the occupation of Palestine.
