Rep. Cori Bush uses leftist academics' term 'birthing people' in testimony

A Congresswoman took “birthing people” — a term first used by campus leftists — into the mainstream.

While testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on May 6, shortly before Mother’s Day, Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) used the phrase “birthing people” in describing her experience as a Black mother.

“I sit before you today as a single mom, as a nurse, as an activist, and as a Congresswoman,” she stated. “And I am committed to doing the absolute most to protect Black mothers, to protect Black babies, to protect Black birthing people, and to save lives.”

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Rep. Bush used the term again in a May 6 tweet: “Every day, Black birthing people and our babies die because our doctors don’t believe our pain. My children almost became a statistic. I almost became a statistic.”

Every day, Black birthing people and our babies die because our doctors don’t believe our pain. My children almost became a statistic. I almost became a statistic.

I testified about my experience @OversightDems today.

Hear us. Believe us. Because for so long, nobody has. pic.twitter.com/rExrMXzsSQ

— Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) May 6, 2021

After widespread criticism, Rep. Bush doubled down.

“Republicans got more upset about me using gender-inclusive language in my testimony than my babies nearly dying,” she remarked. “Racism and transphobia in America.”

I testified in front of Congress about nearly losing both of my children during childbirth because doctors didn’t believe my pain.

Republicans got more upset about me using gender-inclusive language in my testimony than my babies nearly dying.

Racism and transphobia in America.

— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) May 6, 2021

NARAL Pro-Choice America — a pro-abortion lobbying group — endorsed Rep. Bush’s use of the term: “When we talk about birthing people, we’re being inclusive. It’s that simple.”

When we talk about birthing people, we’re being inclusive. It’s that simple.

We use gender neutral language when talking about pregnancy, because it’s not just cis-gender women that can get pregnant and give birth. Reproductive freedom is for *every* body. https://t.co/9E9qKRMJTu

— NARAL (@NARAL) May 6, 2021

Campus leftists have been employing the term “birthing people” for months.

For instance, the University of Pittsburgh’s official media outlet used the phrase in an article about the maternal mortality rate in the United States.

“The numbers are grim: The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. has been climbing over the past three and a half decades, and that rate is higher among Black women and birthing people than in other racial groups with 40 deaths per 100,000, compared to 12.4 per 100,000 in their White counterparts,” the article reads.

[RELATED: UPitt calls women ‘birthing people’ in article about ‘reproductive justice’]

A social media account associated with Harvard Medical School likewise used “birthing people” in a post about “maternal justice.”

[RELATED: Harvard calls women ‘birthing people’ because ‘not all who give birth’ are women]

“Globally, ethnic minority pregnant and birthing people suffer worse outcomes and experiences during and after pregnancy and childbirth,” read the Tweet.

Campus Reform reached out to Rep. Bush for comment; this article will be updated accordingly.

Follow this author on Twitter: @BenZeisloft