HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-28 21-064 Order
12/28/2020
21-064
12/28/2020
21-064
Legal
Order
N/A
Title, Order
Affirming that City Ordinances Should Use Gender-Inclusive Language
This order affirms that City ordinances should use gender-inclusive language, and instructs city staff
to use gender-inclusive language when preparing and revising ordinances.
City Ordinances often use pronouns such as "he or she" when referring to people and City positions.
This can have the effect of marginalizing those who prefer different pronouns.
The purpose of this ordinance is to affirm the use of gender-inclusive or gender-neutral language,
and to direct staff to use their best efforts to be inclusive when drafting ordinances and ordinance
amendments. Such efforts can include, but are not limited to, repeating the title of a City position
instead of using a pronoun, or using the pronoun "they" instead of "he or she."
Recommend for passage
New Business
CITY OF BANGOR ORDER 12/28/2020
21-064
12/28/2020
21-064
Davitt
Affirming that City Ordinances Should Use Gender-Inclusive Language
WHEREAS, at present, City Ordinances often use pronouns such as "he or she" when referring to people and
City positions; and
WHEREAS, this can have the effect of marginalizing those who prefer different pronouns;
Be it Ordered by the City Council of the City of Bangor that,
City ordinances should use gender-inclusive language, and City Staff are instructed to use their best efforts to
employ inclusive language in drafting ordinances and ordinance amendments.
DECEMBER 28,2020
CO 21-064
Motion made and seconded for Passage
Vote: 9—0
Councilors Voting Yes: Davitt,Dubay,Fournier,Hawes,Nichols, Okafor, Schaefer, Sprague,Tremble
Councilors Voting No: None
Passed
CI Y CLE