West Virginia Bill Seeks to Eliminate ‘Woke’ Language from State Government

West Virginia Bill Seeks to Eliminate ‘Woke’ Language from State Government

On Monday, lawmakers in West Virginia introduced a notable legislation that targets the use of what they term ‘woke words’ within state government communications. The proposal aims to create more traditional language alternatives, emphasizing that many modern terms are perceived as ‘sexist’ and ‘exclusionary.’

Rationale Behind the Legislation

The bill puts forward what legislators describe as ‘accurate, female-affirming alternatives’ to existing terminology. This would directly affect the language used in state documents, government websites, and in public discussions.

Specific Language Changes Proposed

Included in the bill are mandates to prefer ‘pregnant women’ over ‘pregnant people,’ and to use ‘woman’ instead of terms like ‘womxn’ or ‘womyn.’ Additionally, ‘woman’ would replace ‘birth-giver’ in official documents. These alterations reflect a commitment to traditional gender terminology.

Further wording shifts involve breastfeeding language—supporters of the bill advocate for reverting to ‘breastfeeding’ instead of ‘chestfeeding.’ Other terms like ‘breast fed’ would replace ‘body fed’ or ‘person fed,’ and ‘breast milk’ would supersede ‘human milk.’

Debate over Gender-Inclusive Language

Proponents assert that this shift to conventional terms simplifies communication about critical health and biological topics. In contrast, critics argue these proposed phrases can lead to confusion and appear to dismiss the complexities of gender identity.

CDC Guidance Sparks Controversy

In recent years, significant discussions arose around gender-inclusive terminology, particularly highlighted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2023, the CDC released guidance aimed at assisting transgender and non-binary individuals who may choose to ‘chestfeed’ their infants.

This guidance elaborated on feeding practices for people who had undergone breast removal surgeries as part of gender-affirming procedures, or for biological men undergoing hormone therapy. However, several medical professionals voiced objections, suggesting that the CDC did not adequately evaluate the potential risk associated with infants receiving milk produced under such circumstances.

Legislative Details and Context

House Bill 2406, sponsored by a group of 11 delegates, proposes to take effect on June 1. This legislative effort is part of a broader trend observed nationwide, where similar bills emerge in response to perceived overreach by progressive language reforms.

On February 7, reports surfaced revealing that the CDC instructed its researchers to exclude terms often associated with gender ideology from their forthcoming publications. An internal email leak disclosed a list of phrases that needed editing, including ‘gender,’ ‘transgender,’ ‘pregnant person,’ and ‘assigned male at birth.’

These directives extended to approximately 20 terms, including a ban on using ‘they/them’ pronouns in the agency’s manuscripts.

Institutional Reactions

West Virginia University recently became another educational institution to limit its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives following rising allegations of reverse discrimination. The university’s actions reflect an ongoing contention over these policies.

Looking Ahead

As lawmakers push forward with this legislation, a mix of support and opposition continues to shape the dialogue. The debate over language and its implications for inclusivity remains critical as society grapples with evolving understandings of gender and identity.

While the sponsors of the bill argue that such measures reflect a responsible approach to governance, the ongoing discussions underscore a broader cultural divide regarding identity politics and language use. The coming weeks will reveal how the bill’s supporters and detractors navigate these tensions.

Delegates involved in crafting the bill did not immediately respond to requests for further commentary on their motives and expected outcomes.

Contributions to this report were provided by Fox News Digital’s Gabriel Hays and Charles Creitz.