Vermont’s Department of Health wants to stop Green Mountain Staters from unintentionally harming each other in conversations about family, so it’s released suggestions of words to avoid:
“The language we use matters! When talking about family, it’s important to use terms that cover the many versions of what family can look like,” the department posted on social media as a “health equity tip.”
Among its “inclusive language for families” tips:
“Use ‘child’ or ‘kid’ instead of ‘daughter’ or ‘son.’ This is gender-neutral and can describe a child who may not be someone’s legal son or daughter.’”
“Say ‘family’ rather than ‘extended family.’ Often grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are important parts of a core family unit.”
The Vermont Health Department’s advice has received national press attention, and it’s inspired national mockery, too.
NHJournal contacted state health officials to confirm the post was sincere and the department had not been hacked. The department responded with a statement.
“The Vermont Department of Health’s social media post was intended to encourage using inclusive language when you don’t know someone’s family situation. This is especially important in settings like classrooms, afterschool programs and sports teams. Using language that includes everyone helps children feel seen, respected, and valued no matter how their families are structured. Learn more about our Department’s commitment to health equity at HealthVermont.gov/health-
One part of the “health equity tip” was particularly confusing: how a child could “not be someone’s legal son or daughter.” Even orphans are the legal sons or daughters of their deceased parents in cases of probate or inheritance questions. What was the state of Vermont trying to say?
Health department officials declined to respond.
Granite Staters often mock the far-left “woke” culture in their neighboring state, but New Hampshire has had its own state government stumbles.
Earlier this year, the Sununu administration’s Department of Information Technology posted a memo with language guidelines for state government-run websites. (The text of the memo can be found here.)
“Embracing Inclusive Language” by Director of User Experience Kathryn Michener offered guidance on informing… without offending. She — or rather “they” (gender-specific pronouns are discouraged) argued “the shift towards inclusive language isn’t about being overly politically correct; it’s about respect and empathy.”
Among the banned terms were “citizens, “grandfathered,” “man-made,” and the use of the colloquial “guys” to refer to a group of people.
After NHJournal reported on the guidelines, Gov. Chris Sununu had them stripped from the state’s official website, calling the effort “nuts” — one of the would-be banned terms.
