By Sophie Perry

Copyright thepinknews

Californian Democrat Sara Jacobs hilariously schooled Republican lawmakers on pronoun use during a debate on a GOP-backed amendment that would prevent employees of the State Department detailing their personal pronouns.

The exchange took place during a meeting of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in which an amendment put forth by Texan Republican Keith Self was being debated.

Self’s amendment was to HR 5300, known as the Department of State Policy Provisions Act, and called for the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, to “prohibit the use of gender pronouns on business cards, email signatures, or any other professional identity elements across the Department of State by employees, contractors, and other officials of the Department of State”.

Keith Self previously courted controversy for purposefully misgendering trans representative Sarah McBride.

Opposing Self’s amendment, Jacobs described it as a “radical infringement” on the freedom of speech and expression of state department employees.

“Denying individuals the ability to accurately reflect their preferred pronouns and avoid the stigma and embarrassment associated with being misgendered in a professional setting,” Jacobs said.

“Heaven forbid people know who they’re communicating with over email when face-to-face conversations aren’t possible. We’ll let the Taylors and Shannons and Lindseys of the world and anyone else go misgendered for the sake of my Republican collegaues’ feelings.”

Jacobs went on to say that “frankly this amendment is an embarrassing use of this committee’s time when we have so many other pressing issues to address”, adding: “I’m ashamed we’re even having to talk about it. I hope all my colleagues vote against this.”

Following Jacob’s comments, Illinois Democrat representative Brad Schneider asked Self if he had Mr Brad Schneider’ on his business card would it be prohibited by the amendment.

“No, because actually sometimes people use the pronouns – and that’s why this is here – incorrectly,” Self responded.

“Gender is immutable,” he went on to claim, “so the Mr and Mrs used improperly with what their natural sex would be, would be under this rule.”

Jacobs questioned further: “In my email signature I, Sara Jacobs, have she/her. Those are my pronouns but under your amendment this would also not be allowed.”

“Correct,” Self responded.

“But you just said if you use the ‘wrong’ pronouns,” Jacobs pointed out. “So that’s not actually accurate.”

“That’s correct. You’re absolutely correct, thank you for that Ms Jacobs.”

“Anytime,” Jacobs responded, stifling a laugh.

Schneider proceeded to then ask about US ambassadors who use titles that are “often His Excellency or Her Excellency” and asked if such gendered titles would also be prohibited.

“It would not be. This is….” Self said before trailing off, apparently unsure what to say.

Schneider in turn cited Self’s own amendment back to him and said that it would surely “prohibit the use of Mr, Ms or Mrs, prohibit the use of His Excellency”, adding he believes it would cause a “whole lot of problems across the State Department”.

In the end, Self withdrew this amendment.

This was not the first time Jacobs irked Republicans by simply stating facts.

Earlier this month, during a debate on the annual defence authorisation bill, Jacobs responded to an amendment put forward by anti-trans GOP rep Nancy Mace which would see bathrooms and changing facilities designated by biological sex.

Jacobs said she thought it was “very interesting” that Mace and other Republicans were “so obsessed” with trans people “when many people in this body have received gender-affirming care”.

“Filler is gender-affirming care, boob jobs is gender affirming care, botox is gender affirming care,” Jacobs went on to list. “Lots of my colleagues have received gender-affirming care. And let me be clear, I think everyone should have access to the gender-affirming care that they need. And I think we should respect everybody in this country.”

In response, after Jacobs set away from the mic, Mace could be heard screaming at her.

The spat then moved online, with Mace writing on social media that while she protects women’s safety the Democrat’s “response is commentary about my body on the House floor”.

“I have a good surgeon if you ever want to get your nose done,” Mace added.

Mace later went on to write there is “no such thing” as a trans child to which Jacobs replied: “I feel sad for you. Stop lashing out against trans kids and pretending it’s to ‘protect women.’ Hope you get the help you need.”