The Metropolitan King County Council on Monday approved a proposal — still needing approval from voters — to amend the King County Charter and the King County Code as to make both entail language that is gender neutral and replace gender-specific rhetoric.

As mentioned, the approval from the Council remains a proposal. Whether or not changes are actually made will be up to voters in the general election occurring Nov. 8.

The ordinance will seek to revert 29 sections of the King County Charter from gender-specific pronouns to gender-neutral ones. As for the County Code, the motion expresses the Council’s desire for “a plan to propose amendments to apply gender-neutral references throughout the county code,” according to the Council’s report. The aforementioned plan is to be composed and presented by the Council’s clerk to the Council, equipped with a timeline for action, on September 30.

“The goal is to get rid of gender bias,” said Pete von Reichbauer, Federal Way’s representative on the County Council. “In the original charter, people weren’t as sensitive to language. It’s time to bring the charter into the 21st century.”

Von Reichbauer, who supports the gender-neutral language, said people began to read charters and ordinances of King County and express dismay over the lack of unity fostered by the language of these documents.

“People kind of accept things and don’t do research on them. Then you read the language and wonder how they have never been updated,” von Reichbauer said. “Some people have to be brought into the 21st century kicking and screaming, but I think our district will support the changes.”

If voters enact the proposal, the amendment would adjust gender-specific terms such as “Councilman” and “Chairman” in the County Charter to gender-neutral terms like “Councilmember” and “Chair” instead, according to a press release.

All of this comes on the heels of President Barack Obama’s administration directing public school districts in the U.S. to accommodate transgender students who wish to use restrooms for a chosen gender identity. As for Washington state, the Council’s approval coincides with previous state precedents — such as Gov. Jay Inslee instituting travel bans on state-funded trips to North Carolina in response to the Tar Heel State’s House Bill 2 — not tolerating the passing of legislature deemed to be non-inclusive.

The Council’s website is at www.kingcounty.gov/council.