The vote comes after 437 people spoke in opposition to the definition change.
The San Diego Board of Supervisors voted to redefine the word ‘woman’ via a 3-2 vote. The item, called Agenda 34, was “an ordinance to provide for the local implementation of the United Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.”
The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on this agenda item before voting. At the hearing, an overwhelming majority of attendees spoke in opposition to the definition change. In total, 437 people stood against the definition change while only 40 supported it. All three Democrat supervisors voted in support of the change, while both Republicans voted against it.
Republican Jim Desmond blasted this decision, saying the new definition would hurt biological females in the long run.
“There are biological differences,” Desmond said. “And the new definition presented here today in my mind opens the door to biological men who identify as women to compete in women’s sports, to compete for women’s scholarships, to compete for the new, unique opportunities and facilities that only apply to women and girls. So thereby, in my opinion, it’s taking away from biological women and that in itself, I think is discriminatory towards women.”
Democrat Supervisor Nora Vargas stepped forth and argued the new motion would protect “women from discrimination.” However, opponents of the ordinance claimed the new definition would include biological men.
“There are three primary components to the CEDAW Ordinance presented to the Board. The first is a statement of values and goals to prevent and eliminate discrimination, and to achieve gender equality,” the ordinance reads. “Discrimination against women extends to transgender women, gender nonconforming women, youth, and those assigned female at birth, which includes transgender men and intersex communities; and the term ‘discrimination against women’ includes any distinction, exclusion, or restriction on the basis of gender and sex assigned at birth.”
