Ted Cruz Brutally Mocked by Texas Newspaper

Republican Senator Ted Cruz has been mocked by one of the largest newspapers in Texas after he introduced a bill that means federal agencies would not have to refer to employees using their preferred names or pronouns.

The legislation, titled the Safeguarding Honest Speech Act, was introduced by Cruz and Tennessee congressman Andy Ogles in mid-November. The bill would prohibit federal agencies from forcing workers to address other employees using their preferred pronouns that "contradict with an individual's biological sex."

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the San Antonio Express-News, the third-largest paper in Texas, shared an article detailing the bill. It said that the senator goes by a preferred name, having been born Rafael Edward Cruz.

"Sen. Rafael Edward Cruz, who uses the preferred name Ted, has introduced a bill to limit the use of preferred names and pronouns," the newspaper posted.

Newsweek has contacted Cruz for further comment via email.

In response, Cruz called the San Antonio Express-News "lying hacks" and accused the paper of misrepresenting what the legislation proposes.

"My bill doesn't ban anyone from saying anything. The First Amendment allows you to call me 'Ted,' Rafael,' 'a wacko bird,' or whatever else you want," Cruz wrote.

"Rather, my bill prohibits the federal government from FORCING anyone to use preferred pronouns or names. IE, it would ban the government from compelling you to call me 'Ted.' See the difference? Show some respect for religious liberty and free speech and fix your dishonest headline," Cruz added.

The "Lose Cruz" super PAC, which aims to unseat the Republican from the Senate, also said that the senator introduced the bill while not going by the name he was given at birth.

"Incredible. Ted Cruz introduced a bill to block federal agencies from requiring employees to use preferred names or pronouns—rather than one's legal name. Ted's legal name is Rafael Edward Cruz," the group posted.

Cruz and Ogles introduced the Safeguarding Honest Speech Act in response to a Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants. This was issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in October.

The policy said that all employees should be addressed by the names and pronouns they use to describe themselves, as using correct names and pronouns helps "foster a workplace free of discrimination and harassment."

Cruz said that such a policy mandating that government employees are addressed by their preferred identity is a violation of the First Amendment, as well as the Free Speech Clause and Free Exercise Clause if people's religious views are in contrast to the HHS's view on human sexuality.

"Forcing anyone to use pronouns that don't accord with a person's biological sex is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment," Cruz said in a statement.

"As the Supreme Court held, 'If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.' The government has no business compelling anyone to use pronouns that contradict biological reality."

The bill is not expected to be considered in the Democratic-controlled Senate.