Merriam-Webster's online dictionary has been caught changing the definition of a word so that it echoes a talking point used by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, at a hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Hirono claimed, when Barrett respectfully referenced "sexual preference" regarding the Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges decision that created the right to same-sex marriage, that the term was outdated and offensive.
"You use the term sexual preference to describe those in the LGBTQ community," Hirono preached. "Let me make clear: 'sexual preference' is an offensive, an outdated term. It is used by anti-LGBTQ activities to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice."
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing July 31, 2018 (Video screenshot)
Recalling the discussion to the science of the situation, she said, "It is not."
The Federalist noted that within hours, internet archives revealed that Webster's "made a change to the page for the definition of 'preference,' adding that when used as 'sexual preference' the word is 'offensive.'"
As recently as last month, Webster’s Dictionary included a definition of “preference” as “orientation” or “sexual preference.” TODAY they changed it and added the word “offensive."
Insane - I just checked through Wayback Machine and it’s real.
(via @ThorSvensonn & @chadfelixg) pic.twitter.com/oOq1SNtCP2
— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) October 14, 2020
The report, however, pointed out that even though Democrats claimed it is offensive, "presidential nominee Joe Biden and Senate Judiciary Committee members Dick Durbin and Richard Blumenthal recently used the word in public settings and received no pushback."
Barrett immediately confirmed that it was not her intent to insult anyone or use offensive language.
But online commentator David Rutz noted that Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who Mazie Hirono called "our champion," used the term "sexual preference" in 2017.
Dozens of news outlets, many of them openly supporting the Democrats' agenda, also have used it commonly.
For example, CNN said just a few years ago, "regardless of our race, creed, color, sexual preference…"
The Blaze reported that the term is "used widely by Democrats, progressives, and LGBT individuals."
The report explained, "Prior to the supposed outrage, Webster's Dictionary listed the fifth definition under 'preference' to link to the term 'sexual preference,' the universally used phrase to refer to those with whom a person chooses to have sex. Now, the definition has been updated to claim the word is 'offensive.' In fact, Webster's Dictionary claims the phrase is 'widely' believed to be considered offensive, despite the fact that it was not listed as offensive until after Barrett used it."
Webster's now states: "The term preference as used to refer to sexual orientation is widely considered offensive in its implied suggestion that a person can choose who they are sexually or romantically attracted to."
But the Blaze noted that Hirono's claim actually is not backed by science.
"In fact, there is no scientific evidence proving that genetic code concretely determines the people with whom someone engages in sex."
The Federalist noted: "While this Orwellian addition shocked some on Twitter, it follows a pattern of the institutions guarding the language guidelines in society backtracking on their definitions to match what the mob is demanding."
Watch Hirono unleash on Barrett:
Sen. Mazie Hirono scolds ACB for using the term "sexual preference" when answering a question about Obergefell this morning, saying that the term is "offensive and outdated." pic.twitter.com/HcFpRQbD9X
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 13, 2020
The post Dictionary changes definition of word after Dem scolds Amy Coney Barrett appeared first on WND.
