Should Language in New york STate's Constitute be made Gender Neutral?

 

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2001, voters will be asked to vote on a proposal to amend the NYS Constitution to make its language gender neutral.  For example, "his" will become "his or hers," "fireman" will be come "firefighter," etc.

 

Pro's and con's to help you decide how to vote on the issue:

 

Pro's

 

1.  It is wrong to disciminate in our laws and it is wrong to discriminate in our language.  When women were first given the right to vote, it was called

"frivolous" and "ridiculous."  It was not then and it is not now.

 

2.  Each year, 5000 copies of the State Constitution are reprinted. There would be no extra cost to include gender neutral language in next year's

printing.

 

3.  Becuase it is an historic document, the Constitution should be accurate. When first written it reflected a time when women could nto vote, hold

elective office or sit on juries.  The Constitution has been amended severa times in the past and needs to be brought up to date again.

 

4.  Symbols and words have meaning.  By excluding women from the state's Constitution, we exclude their contributions and their excistence.

 

5.  Timing in government is everything.  Both houses of the state legislature and both male and female legislators voted unanaimously to make the

Constitution gender neutral.

 

6.  The changes do not "feminize" the Constitution by removing references to men.  RAther, they add references to women to make it neutral when discussing gender.

 

Con's

 

1.  Critics charge that sucvh a change rises to the level of frivolity by trying to be politcally correct.

 

2.  It is a waste of tax dolalrs to reprint the Constitution for this purpose.

 

3.  We should not change the Constitution because it is an historic document.

 

4.  The chagne would be merely cymbolic because the Constitution does not prohibit nor restrict women from holding office.  A gender neutral language

change won't enhance women's liberty, rights or freedoms.

 

5.  It is a waste of time with more important priorities needing attention.

 

6.  The gender neutral proposal is part of the liberal feminist movement that wants to feminize the Constitution.