BERKELEY, Calif. — The city of Berkeley, long a bastion of liberal ideas, voted this week to purge gender from its law books.
Manhole will be replaced with maintenance hole. Sisters and brothers will be replaced with siblings. And he or she will be banished in favor of they, even if referring to one person.
The City Council’s unanimous decision was meant to send a message about equal chances and representation, said Councilmember Lori Droste.
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“Your gender has no relevance in whether you can perform work and receive services,” Ms. Droste said. “Women and nonbinary folks are just as entitled to accurate representation.”