Lawmakers in Richmond are dealing with a number of firsts walking the hallways, including the first lesbian first Asian-American woman lawmakers. And the first transgender delegate is causing some language to shift.
The House of Delegates is a place that loves its traditions. Like referring to the gentleman from Roanoke or the gentlewoman from Prince William. But Republicans are abandoning that tradition now that they are facing the first transgender delegate, Danica Roem.
“Yeah, we should get to gender neutral," Roem said. "That’s fine overall. But it shouldn’t come at the expense of not referring to the first trans woman as that. And, at the same time, I understand I have so many more important things to deal with than whether I’m being called gentlewoman or delegate.”
Republican Caucus Chairman Tim Hugo says the House is being progressive. “The Senate did it many years ago, they’re just trying to be in conformity of what the Senate did. The Senate set the precedent.”
Some have questioned the change as a reaction to gender issues surrounding the new transgender delegate. Hugo does not buy that argument. “I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s a reaction. I think everybody’s been very welcoming to the new delegate, and I think she deserves respect and I think everybody’s going to give it to her,” Hugo said.
During the campaign, the Republican Party funded a piece of direct mail that referred to Roem as a he rather than a she. Now that she’s here in Richmond, they’re calling her a she, even if they’re not referring to her as a gentlewoman.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
