On January 4th, he Berkeley City Attorney filed suit in Alameda County court against several churches and synagogues in the city, citing their continued use of the word “amen” instead of “apeople” at the conclusion of prayers.
The city alleges that the usage is in violation of its 2018 law requiring the use of gender neutral pronouns. That law saw substitutions, in official documents, of words like “maintenance hole” for the now prohibited “manhole.”
We have no standing, but what the heck
U.R. Monae, Berkeley City Attorney
The Bunion’s staff legal expert, Soumi Quick, advises that the suit is unlikely to succeed. “First, the law was only meant to cover city documents. Second, the defendants are religious institutions with considerable latitude in expression.”
City Attorney U.R Monae remains steadfast. “We have no standing, but what the heck. It’s not like we can find a better use for the money.”