October 22, 2024

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved Chair Lindsey P. Horvath’s motion to ensure the Los Angeles County Code uses gender-inclusive language. Los Angeles County is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and part of that focus includes ensuring the language used to describe County laws is inclusive and not gendered. 

“Los Angeles County is home to diverse communities, all of whom deserve to see themselves reflected in the language used to make County policy,” said Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. “Words matter and, with this motion, the County takes another step toward equity and inclusion for all.”

The Los Angeles County Code includes archaic language that is outdated and inappropriate in some references. The motion calls on all future code to be written using gender inclusive language, and also directs an expedited process to transition the seven volumes of existing code to use language that includes all genders.   

Examples of language that will change: 

•  County officers and employees are referred to as “he” in several sections.  
• Language written in 1942 “constructs gender” as “the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter genders.”  
• A section written in 1960 declares that a County employee must return “his” badge upon leaving a position.  

 More Information 

Motion directing gender-inclusive language > 

Los Angeles County Code > 

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