(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Dr. Michelle Morse, the chief medical officer at the New York City Department of Health, was commenting on New York’s “birth equity” in a tweet, in which she referred to white mothers as “birthing people” and black and Puerto Ricans simply as “mothers,” The Daily Wire reported.
The urgency of this moment is clear. Mortality rates of birthing people are too high, and babies born to Black and Puerto Rican mothers in this city are three times more likely to die in their first year of life than babies born to non-Hispanic White birthing people.
— Dr. Michelle E. Morse (@NYCHealthCMO) March 23, 2022
“The ugrency of this moment is clear. Mortality rates of birthing peopl are too nigh, and babies born to Black and Puerto Rican mothers in thic city are three times more likely to die in their first year of life than babies born to non-Hispanic White birthing people,” the tweet read.
This statement received some backlash as denigrating white “birthing people,” and an apology was issued—but not the apology you would expect.
A city Department of Health spokesperson said “we apologize for inadvertently gendering Black and Puerto Rican birthing people.”https://t.co/WpxffPkkKc
— Mia Cathell (@MiaCathell) April 3, 2022
“A city Department of Health spokesperson said ‘we apologize for inadvertently gendering Black and Puerto Rican birthing people,'” a responding tweet said, quoting an article from The Post Millennial.
While its not clear if Morse believes only white people can be “birthing people,” or if she was simply using the term inconsistently, it confused many people on social media:
What’s the difference between “Mothers” and “birthing people” besides race
— Musings of a nobody (@JustaCi54400863) April 3, 2022
Also, uh…can you not decide if they’re mothers or birthing people? Cause you used both.
Maybe go for a walk in Birthing Person Nature and think about it before tweeting next time
— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) March 24, 2022
White Mothers are called ‘birthing people’ and black and Puerto Rican Mothers are called Mothers? Your license to practice medicine should be revoked.
— Kimberly Morin (@Conservativeind) March 24, 2022
I just called my wife a ‘birthing person’ and then in the spirit of consistency referred to her as my ‘cooking & cleaning person’. Has anyone got a spare room I might use for the next few weeks?
— Mr Gordian Knot (@gordian_mr) March 24, 2022
So you know they’re black and Puerto Rican, but you don’t know whether or not they’re women? Tell me you’re delusional without telling me you’re delusional
— Al Roberson (@AlRoberson7) April 3, 2022
 Dr. Michelle Morse, the chief medical officer at the New York City Department of Health, was commenting on New York's "birth equity" in a tweet, in which she referred to white mothers as "birthing people" and black and Puerto Ricans simply as "mothers," The Daily Wire reported.){kind=link}