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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Lorraine King

Council could go gender neutral and call residents 'Mx' instead of Mr and Mrs

A council is set to call its 395,000 residents 'Mx' instead of Mr and Mrs in plans to go gender neutral.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council could also wield an axe over Miss and Ms as they deem feminine and masculine terms 'reinforce historic gender stereotypes'.

While 'he' or 'she' is also destined for the bin and will be replaced with 'they'.

The Conservative-run local authority will also bid a farewell to 'Mr or Madam Chairman' in meetings which will be replaced with 'chair' instead.

Any written or verbal communication by the council will adhere to the gender-neutral language, Sun Online reports.

Independent councillor L-J Evans tabled the motion (BCP/BNPS)

The Civil Service has used gender-neutral language since 2007.

Councillors will debate the proposals in Dorset next week after they were tabled in a motion by Independent L-J Evans who said the plans would help to ensure the council “was doing our best to avoid any offence”.

Labour councillor Lisa Lewis backs the motion (BCP/BNPS)

The councillor said: “The use of masculine and feminine words to cover people, regardless of gender or sex, is unnecessary, inaccurate and tends to reinforce historic gender ­stereotypes.

"Gender-neutral writing is about clarity, inclusion, equality and would help to prevent unconscious bias."

Labour councillor Lisa Lewis, who is backing the motion, said the aim was to use language that makes people 'comfortable and included' as 'society has changed'

She added: “At BCP we’re still getting Mr Chairman, Madam Chairman, so it just doesn’t seem appropriate for today. Being woke isn’t necessarily a bad thing."

Councillor Bobbie Dove, the council's cabinet member for equalities, said she 'absolutely endorsed' work to create 'a more equitable council' but has requested the motion's wording be changed.

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