Savannah Mehrtens/Staff Photo / Savannah Mehrtens/Staff Photo
A routine discussion on paid parental leave for city employees became an unexpected lesson in childbirth for Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin on Thursday, when the long-serving council member waded into a discussion on postnatal care during a meeting of City Council’s Quality of Life committee.“Hysterectomy?” Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum, sitting next to Martin, interjected as the room erupted in laughter.A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a woman’s uterus.
Martin, quickly realizing his mistake, joined in the laughter before glancing to a smiling Castex-Tatum, who supplied the correct word: “Cesarean.” He then forged ahead with his question about whether the manner of birth affects how much paid leave would be available to a city employee.significant role women play on the current City Council
. Of the 10 members in attendance Thursday, seven are mothers, a fact that shifted the tenor of the discussion on paid parental leave. The meeting concluded with the proposal expected to head to the full Council next week, but not before Martin, who said he supports the paid leave plan and wants to expand it, offered an addendum to his earlier gaffe.
Another out of touch old white man.