In a real time cancel culture moment, Hirono accused Barrett of not using the correct terminology when describing same sex attraction, to cast aspersions on her ability to be an impartial judge.
In a real time cancel culture moment, Senator Mazie Hirono accused Amy Coney Barrett of not using the correct terminology when describing same sex attraction, to cast aspersions on her ability to be an impartial judge.
Mazie Hirono called Barrett out on her having said "sexual preference" in response to a morning question from Senator Diane Feinstein when that is just not the preferred term.
Twitter users on the left were quick to suggest that Barrett's use of the word "preference" was evidence of some sort of bias.
"I was disappointed," Hirono said, "that you wouldn't give a direct answer and whether you agreed with the majority in that case or you instead agree with your mentor that no such right exists in the Constitution.
"So even though you didn't give a direct answer, I think your response," Hirono said knowingly, "did speak volumes. Not once, but twice you used the term sexual preference to describe people in the LGBTQ community. And let me make clear: sexual preference is an offensive and outdated term. It is used by anti-LGBTQ activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice.
"It is not. Sexual orientation is a key part of a person's identity. Sexual orientation is both a normal expression of human sexuality and immutable, was a key part of the majority's opinion in Obergefell, which by the way Scalia did not agree with. So if it is your view that sexual orientation is merely a preference, as you noted, then the LGBTQ community should be rightly concerned whether you would uphold their constitutional right to marry."
Because Judge Barrett didn't use the current, ultra-correct terminology to describe same sex attraction, Sen. Hirono extrapolated that Barrett did not believe gay people should have the right to marry, that she would not be objective in her rulings.
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