A screen shot from a Board of Selectpersons meeting.
SEYMOUR – A new gender-neutral ordinance now officially recognizes the men and women who serve as the town’s legislative body as the Board of Selectpersons.
The board, during its meeting Sept. 21, unanimously approved the gender-neutral change, which replaces the former Board of Selectmen title. The individuals who serve on the board will still be individually referenced as Selectman or Selectwoman, but collectively they will share the gender-neutral title of Selectpersons.
The change attracted a few negative comments on social media, accusing the town of falling prey to a “woke mentality.”
First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis said the change was a long time coming.
“The idea behind this change came several years ago from former Selectwoman Karen Stanek, a female who was on the board, and well before the ‘woke’ comments,” Drugonis said. “If people bothered to read entire articles, rather than just the headlines, they would realize this has nothing to do with gender identity. This has nothing to do with how people identify. We have both men and women who serve on this board.”
Selectman Fred Stanek, who initially proposed the change, said he was glad to see his fellow board members support something his late wife Karen had pushed for.
“My wife Karen served on the Board of Selectmen-now the Board of Selectpersons- for seven years,” Stanek said. “As an advocate for women’s rights, she objected to women members of the Board of Selectmen being addressed as Selectmen. When I was elected to the Board of Selectmen in late 2021, I decided to introduce the ordinance which we are discussing not only because of Karen’s objections, but I believe that all women who wish to serve on the Board of Selectpersons should be addressed appropriately to reflect that our society and government have changed and advanced since the 1600s with the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the passage of Title IX.”
Stanek said a change was necessary because the Colonial-era of yesteryear, when only men served on executive boards in governing towns is long gone.
