A Wyoming woman put MAGA's hypocrisy about "preferred pronouns" on full display after calling state Senator Tim French "Madam Chairman" while testifying before the Wyoming Senate Judiciary Committee.
Britt Boril of Casper, Wyoming, was testifying before the committee mere days after state Republicans passed S.F. 77, the “Compelled Speech Is Not Free Speech” Act," a bill prohibiting people from being "forced" to use correct gender pronouns for anyone. The state Senate still has to pass the bill because the state House changed a section regarding penalties for those who violate the legislation.
Boril started her testimony by referring to French as "Madam Chairman":
“Hello, thank you, Madam Chairman. As the senate overwhelmingly voted yes—"
French cut her off, saying:
“You can call me Mr. Chairman if you want."
But Boril persisted, citing S.F. 77:
“Well, I cannot be compelled to use your preferred pronouns as you have all voted."
French sputtered:
“Wait a minute, we’re talking about preferred pronouns, a lot of people are… I prefer to be called Chairman French. That’s my preferred pronoun."
Boril continued with her testimony after making her point further:
“I know, and you all voted that preferred pronouns cannot be compelled speech in S.F. 77."
You can watch what happened in the video below.
It was a hilarious example of malicious compliance—and people loved it.
Preferred gender pronouns are the pronouns a person prefers to be used when they are referred to, in order to indicate their gender identity.
As it became increasingly common for people to display their pronouns in the workplace or on social media profiles by both members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as allies who wanted to help normalize and encourage the practice and signal to others that they are in a safe space, the U.S. right has attacked and demonized the practice as "woke."
Unfortunately, with the reelection of Donald Trump, this virulently "anti-woke" right is more emboldened than ever with many MAGA legislators around the country even passing laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community.