Merriam-Webster Changes Definition of ‘Sexual Preference’ in Response to SCOTUS Hearings
Oct 14, 2020 16:02:41 #
Merriam-Webster Changes Definition of ‘Sexual Preference’ in Response to SCOTUS Hearings
Lucy Collins ~ October 14, 2020
Following uproar by Democrats over Supreme Court-nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s use of the term “sexual preference” in lieu of “sexual orientation,” Merriam-Webster adjusted their definition for “preference” by adding that it is considered “offensive.”
Podcaster Steve Krakauer pointed out via Twitter that the change had recently occurred and showed before and after photos displaying the change.
Krakauer continued the thread by showing instances where top Democrats and news agencies used the term “sexual preference” and did not receive criticism or come off as being “offensive.”
One instance was a statement by Leon Panetta, President Barack Obama’s defense secretary. In 2018, Panetta wrote for CNN about how “Trump is not who we are” because “we are all created equal under God, regardless of our race, creed, religion, color, sexual preference.”
Krakauer also shared an article from CNN on “What it means to be g****r-fluid,” where “preference” is used again in lieu of saying “sexual orientation.”
The Advocate, self-described as “your source for L***Q+ news,” posted today an article entitled, “Amy Coney Barrett Blasted for Anti-L***Q+ Term 'Sexual Preference.’” Less than a month ago, the site featured an interview by L***Q Netflix Director Kenny Ortega where he used the “preference” phrase, seemingly without animus.
CNS News contacted Merriam-Webster for a comment and received this statement:
The work of revising the dictionary is ongoing and continuous, and these updates are a routine part of the job. Our scheduled updates, which add new words and also add new definitions, usage guidance, and example sentences to existing dictionary entries, take place several times per year. From time to time, we release one or some of these scheduled changes early when a word or set of words is getting extra attention, and it would seem timely to share that update: the public is implicitly asking us a question by looking up a word, and we are immediately able to provide additional information. This is something that we also did in March for terms connected to the C****-** p******c.
In this case, we released the update for sexual preference when we noticed that the entries for preference and sexual preference were being consulted in connection with the SCOTUS hearings. A revision made in response to an entry's increased attention differs only in celerity—as always, all revisions reflect evidence of use.
The term became an issue when Supreme Court-nominee Amy Coney Barrett used the phrase during questioning and Sen.Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) criticized her for the language.
“Let me make clear, ‘sexual preference’ is an offensive and outdated term. It is used by anti-L***Q activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice. It is not,” Hirono said.
“I certainly didn’t mean and would never mean to use a term that would cause any offense on the L***Q community. So if I did, I greatly apologize for that. I simply meant to be referring to Obegefell’s holding with respect to same-sex marriage,” Barrett then replied.
The Washington Free Beacon also compiled a list of notable figures, including Joe Biden and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, using the term without correction.
Lucy Collins ~ October 14, 2020
Following uproar by Democrats over Supreme Court-nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s use of the term “sexual preference” in lieu of “sexual orientation,” Merriam-Webster adjusted their definition for “preference” by adding that it is considered “offensive.”
Podcaster Steve Krakauer pointed out via Twitter that the change had recently occurred and showed before and after photos displaying the change.
Krakauer continued the thread by showing instances where top Democrats and news agencies used the term “sexual preference” and did not receive criticism or come off as being “offensive.”
One instance was a statement by Leon Panetta, President Barack Obama’s defense secretary. In 2018, Panetta wrote for CNN about how “Trump is not who we are” because “we are all created equal under God, regardless of our race, creed, religion, color, sexual preference.”
Krakauer also shared an article from CNN on “What it means to be g****r-fluid,” where “preference” is used again in lieu of saying “sexual orientation.”
The Advocate, self-described as “your source for L***Q+ news,” posted today an article entitled, “Amy Coney Barrett Blasted for Anti-L***Q+ Term 'Sexual Preference.’” Less than a month ago, the site featured an interview by L***Q Netflix Director Kenny Ortega where he used the “preference” phrase, seemingly without animus.
CNS News contacted Merriam-Webster for a comment and received this statement:
The work of revising the dictionary is ongoing and continuous, and these updates are a routine part of the job. Our scheduled updates, which add new words and also add new definitions, usage guidance, and example sentences to existing dictionary entries, take place several times per year. From time to time, we release one or some of these scheduled changes early when a word or set of words is getting extra attention, and it would seem timely to share that update: the public is implicitly asking us a question by looking up a word, and we are immediately able to provide additional information. This is something that we also did in March for terms connected to the C****-** p******c.
In this case, we released the update for sexual preference when we noticed that the entries for preference and sexual preference were being consulted in connection with the SCOTUS hearings. A revision made in response to an entry's increased attention differs only in celerity—as always, all revisions reflect evidence of use.
The term became an issue when Supreme Court-nominee Amy Coney Barrett used the phrase during questioning and Sen.Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) criticized her for the language.
“Let me make clear, ‘sexual preference’ is an offensive and outdated term. It is used by anti-L***Q activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice. It is not,” Hirono said.
“I certainly didn’t mean and would never mean to use a term that would cause any offense on the L***Q community. So if I did, I greatly apologize for that. I simply meant to be referring to Obegefell’s holding with respect to same-sex marriage,” Barrett then replied.
The Washington Free Beacon also compiled a list of notable figures, including Joe Biden and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, using the term without correction.
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