Here is why I am enthusiastically calling it the Gulf of America, and why I would ask you to join me. Three reasons:

First: So, you can do it! Do you not find it odd that the same people who refuse to call a trans person by their new name because its “too hard” are just magically able to flip to the Gulf of America? The Gulf has been known as the Gulf of Mexico (itself a unilateral renaming by a government) for not quite 500 years. Just think of the “Gulf of Mexico” as its dead name and the Gulf of America is actually quite easy.

Second, the Gulf of America is a testament to the arrogance of the United States. Mexico is in America. So is Cuba, which is the only other country besides the United States and Mexico to have a border on the Gulf of America. If it would be that the renaming were done to symbolize the unity of these three nations to live in harmony on this shared body of water, then it would be a good thing. But that’s not what it is.

On January 7, 2025, not quite President yet Trump said the following as part of his announcement of intent to change the name:

“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Gulf of America – what a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate. We’re going to change, because we do most of the work there, and it’s ours.”

Lastly, and running with his (probably accurate) claim that “we do most of the work there”, the vast majority of the ecological damage done in the Gulf of America was done by the United States and its corporations. So, I think its right that the United States should claim its own mess. But that of course is not what its doing. Want to learn more about just how messed up the gulf is, watch this quick 5 minutes video:

A recent study showed that 72% of United States residents polled opposed the renaming. That’s nice and all, but I think the reason they opposed it probably had more to do with unwillingness to change or a dislike of the source and process (or lack thereof) behind the change. I would invite you to consider that despite the source, the Gulf of America as a perfectly reasonable name for the Gulf and also to consider how easily some folks were able to just change their behavior at a drop of a hat and join me in supporting justice by calling it the Gulf of America.

Rev Ed Proulx, Minister