The U.S. State Department was thoroughly mocked on social media this week following a tweet celebrating “International Pronouns Day.” They shared an article explaining why many people on social media share their pronouns to help prevent others from “accidentally assuming an incorrect gender based on a name or an appearance.”
According to the website pronounsday.org, “International Pronouns Day began in 2018 and takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of October each year.”
They aim to “make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace.”
Additionally, they claim:
“Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities.”
On Wednesday, the official Department of State Twitter account posted, “Today on International Pronouns Day, we share why many people list pronouns on their email and social media profiles. Read more here on @ShareAmerica.” The tweet included a cartoon image of several people wearing clothing with pronouns written on them and a link to a Share America article from July titled, “Why do many Americans list pronouns on social media profiles?”
Critics mocked the message on social media and accused the department of putting “International Pronouns Day” ahead of foreign policy.
If I’m Xi Jinping, I take one look at that tweet and then invade Taiwan… At this rate we should probably just go ahead and learn how to write our pronouns in Mandarin.
Oh yea, btw, what were the pronouns of all the Americans you abandoned to the Taliban? https://t.co/aUNN3zd71L
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 20, 2021
Donald Trump Jr. said:
“If I’m Xi Jinping, I take one look at that tweet and then invade Taiwan… At this rate we should probably just go ahead and learn how to write our pronouns in Mandarin. Oh yea, btw, what were the pronouns of all the Americans you abandoned to the Taliban?”
This is what they were likely focused on while leaving Americans behind to fend for themselves against terrorists in Afghanistan.
Screw They/Them. https://t.co/aUNN3zd71L
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 21, 2021
He followed up with a second tweet stating, “This is what they were likely focused on while leaving Americans behind to fend for themselves against terrorists in Afghanistan. Screw They/Them.”
They left Americans stranded in Afghanistan because they are focused on this. https://t.co/AY8ZACtaWs
— Congresswoman Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) October 20, 2021
Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller of Illinois echoed Trump Jr’s position saying.
There are still many American citizens, legal permanent resides, and at-risk Afghan allies that remain stranded in Afghanistan! https://t.co/hl96oeEfwm
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) October 20, 2021
Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty also replied to the Department’s tweet with, “There are still many American citizens, legal permanent resides, and at-risk Afghan allies that remain stranded in Afghanistan!”
And some people wonder how the Embassy in Afghanistan fell so quickly. https://t.co/UupCTDsbf9
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) October 20, 2021
The official House Judiciary GOP account replied, “And some people wonder how the Embassy in Afghanistan fell so quickly.”
Several other Republican lawmakers slammed the Department of State for tweeting about the transgender movement while ignoring far more pressing foreign policy issues.
China successfully tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, Afghanistan is now a terror super-state, Central American countries are sending a FLOOD of migrants to our border, and THIS is what the State Department prioritizes!? What is WRONG with these people??? https://t.co/IfxP68wFHz
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) October 20, 2021
China is testing hypersonic missiles. We're celebrating International Pronouns Day. https://t.co/P7hqUxt6T6
— Congresswoman Tenney (@RepTenney) October 20, 2021
This is what the people in charge of our nations foreign policy are working on today https://t.co/hJk2fpyzPj
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 20, 2021
The State Department’s tweet comes amid the announcement of Rachel Levine as the first “female” 4-star officer.
