Ted Cruz says he once introduced himself to students by saying his pronoun is 'kiss my ass' to push back against 'woke college campuses'

• Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday mocked using correct gender pronouns.
• He said he talked to a student on a college campus who introduced herself using her pronouns.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Friday poked fun at the practice of sharing individual pronouns.

Speaking at Turning Point USA's annual Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida, Cruz railed against "woke" college campuses and recalled a moment in a classroom in which a student shared her pronouns.

"I talked to a student recently at one of our woke college campuses who said she is required in every class to introduce herself and to give her pronouns," Cruz said, to which the crowd booed.

"Well, I'm Ted Cruz, and my pronoun is 'kiss my ass,'" he said to cheers, according to a video he posted on Twitter.

—Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 23, 2022

"The more crazy they get — every time they do something ridiculous — part of me weeps but part of me celebrates," he added. "Because it is accelerating the country coming back. It is opening eyes. I promise all of y'all on campuses across the country — your classmates, even if they are scared to say it — are looking around thinking, 'This stuff is nuts.'"

In a poll published last month by the Pew Research Center, 34% of people said it's extremely or very important to use a person's correct pronouns after transiting.

Another poll, published in May, found that about 60% of all respondents said children should not be able to pick their own pronouns and should instead be identified by the sex assigned at birth. That same poll said a majority — or 63% — of the respondents believe teachers should be able to use discretion when referring to a child using pronouns.

Using someone's correct gender pronouns is also a way to acknowledge gender diversity and create inclusivity, experts say.

"Whether intentional or not, using the wrong pronouns can be hurtful, angering, and even distracting," an informational page on pronouns from the National Institutes of Health says. "Some might find it equivalent to being told they do not matter or deserve respect. Invalidating someone's identity puts a strain on how a person moves about in society and how that individual interacts with others."