TULSA, Okla. — Employees with Oklahomans for Equality are working to change the language of the Tulsa City Charter.

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, and while they will see many issues, one of them will be the a proposed amendment to the charter, changing the gender specific language to gender neutral terms.

The Technical Coordinator for OKEQ, Anna Puhl, tells KRMG the language change is meant to more accurately include all people who work for the city.

“In simplest terms, it’s replacing words like ‘he’ and ‘man’ to words like ‘they’ and ‘person,” Puhl says. “Not all firefighters are firemen, not all police officers are policemen. Not all city councilors are city councilmen. Inclusive language helps everyone feel included."

In a statement released by OKEQ, the non-profit says “Our town charter is a document that sets our vision of our city and, up until now, it has only used he/him pronouns. Charter Proposition Number 2 would change the pronouns to gender inclusive language, making sure all Tulsans, regardless of gender, are included in our vision.”

Puhl says the language in the charter was written when only men could take part in the political process, but that hasn’t been the case in almost 50 years.

“Using words like, ‘he’ and ‘man’ erase all of the accomplishments of women in politics in our city and using gender neutral language allows all people to feel included. Men, women, non-binary people. It recognizes everyone as part of the political process.”

Puhl, along with OKEQ, hope the vote will put in place a standard that all people are treated equally and all people are part of the political process.

“It is a small administrative change,” Puhl says. “It is 2-5 characters that changes the way we talk about our elected officials and our public servants. It will only change the language within the city charter and recognizes 100% of the people.”

Puhl says the change in the charter language would be a big step for not just the City of Tulsa, but the state as a whole, in setting an example to the rest of the country.

“This amendment in the city charter is reminiscent to other amendments that have been done in other, more progressive cities. This would be one of the first actions of this kind to take place in a city like Tulsa. As a non-binary person I am rarely recognized by my government or by society at large. This kind of language allows me to see myself as part of my city.”

Voting begins on Tuesday, August 25th at 7:00 a.m.

You can find your nearest polling location by going to the Tulsa County Website.

Cox Media Group