Council Silent as Ford Threatens County Employees, Calls Pronouns 'Irrelevant'

Memphis City Council members remained silent during a meeting Tuesday while a council member insulted, threatened, and belittled two county employees and said one’s pronouns were “so irrelevant.”

The angry words came as the council debated rules against pipelines in the city limits. Alex Hensley, special assistant to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, showed up to speak for Harris’ office. Hensley gave each council member a letter, which listed “she/they” as pronouns.

Sounding frustrated, council member Edmund H. Ford, Sr. held up the letter and said, “this is so irrelevant. It’s got ‘Best,’ your name, and then it says ‘she/they.’ Who is she/they?”

“That’s me,” Hensley responded. “That is a letter from me.”

“Okay,” Ford said as someone laughed off camera. “So, you’re she and they. Okay.”

Read more: https://www.memphisflyer.com/council-silent-as-ford-threatens-county-employees-calls-preferred-pronouns-irrelevant