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

Rep. Cori Bush used the term 'birthing people' as a gender neutral term for pregnant women.

The label has appeared across universities' websites and social media accounts.

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.”

[RELATED: Urban studies prof mimics Buttigieg’s allegation that infrastructure is racist]

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.”


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.”



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.”



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