Rep. Woodman Page, R-Newport, used the wrong pronouns Thursday on the virtual House floor when referring to Rep. Taylor Small, P/D-Winooski, the first openly transgender person to serve in the Vermont Legislature.
As he asked House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, whether he could question Small about a proposed change to Winooski’s charter, Page employed he/him pronouns. Small’s pronouns are she/her.
The Newport Republican also wrongly identified Small as the representative from Colchester, not from Winooski.
“I’d like to ask a question or interrogate, I guess, the member from Colchester — I believe it was Rep. Small, if I may,” Page said. “I know he’s not the presenter of the bill, but I’d like to ask him a question about a comment he just made.”
Page ended up putting his question to Small’s seatmate, Rep. Hal Colston, D-Winooski. After that exchange, Krowinski pointedly corrected Page.
“I just want to be clear that the member from Winooski uses she/her pronouns, thank you,” the speaker said.
Later, as the floor session came to a close, Page apologized for the incident.
“As it’s been pointed out to me by a number of my colleagues, I used incorrect pronouns. And I just want to say to you, Madam Speaker, and to the member, I believe from Colchester, and to the entire body, that I did not mean any disrespect towards anyone,” Page said. “I hope you can accept my apology, and I will try to do better in the future.”
Page’s remarks came just a day after Rep. Mari Cordes, D-Lincoln, celebrated Small on the House floor while honoring International Transgender Day of Visibility, which is aimed at raising awareness around discrimination faced by transgender people.
On Thursday, Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, P/D-Burlington — a leader of the House Progressive Caucus — spoke out in support of Small, calling on all lawmakers, not just Page, to respect people’s identities.
“I would encourage all of the members here that we all must do better,” Mulvaney-Stanak said on the floor. “We all must do better to show up for each other as colleagues, new or old, as well as leaders in our communities.”
Mulvaney-Stanak also offered herself as a resource to lawmakers unsure how to use pronouns appropriately.
“The work belongs to us as individuals,” Mulvaney-Stanak said.
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