This is utter bullshit for at least two reasons. Firstly, only a tiny percent of the population identifies as something other than male or female, their birth gender. How many? No one knows.
We all know that, as adults, we are largely responsible for managing our own emotions. Even if you are deliberately insulted, by being called a 'faggot' or a 'nigger' you are still responsible for your reaction. The judge might go easy on you for beating up the troglodyte who insulted you, but there will still be legal consequences. Having to put up with the "wrong" pronoun is not even close to the same level of offense.
Yet, this is not the issue. The issue is whether using male pronouns for Joe is truly trying to quash, suppress, negate, or de-legitimize Joe's existence as a gender non-binary person. It isn't; it is assuming that at least 99% of people who look like men are OK with male pronouns. Whether Joe prefers 'ze' to male pronouns is a trivial matter. Joe needs to be responsible for managing his own feelings about hearing conventional words that he does not feel apply to him.
Getting people to give up gendered pronouns is going to take a very long time. And for what benefit really? How does anyone know this would make society more accepting of non-heterosexual persons? Maybe it will. If this is your position, you must be able to defend it. Calling the rest of us homophobic, or saying we are OK with throwing genderqueer people "under the bus" is just a way to cut off real discussion.
So, we are all responsible for managing our own feelings. Sensible people also (mostly) agree that society should have rules to protect people from outright oppression and discrimination. Those rules do give gay people some protections. The law in some US states and many EU nations does recognize gay marriage. Is there room for progress? Yes.
Changing Pronoun Use is Hopeless:
But, how to make progress? Is pushing for gender-neutral pronouns a good idea? Is encouraging everyone to find out what pronoun someone prefers a good idea? I doubt that even most gay people and trans people (who are trying to pass as their biological gender) would care.
I can read some minds now. So, what is your evidence that this evolution in pronoun use will make anything better for non-heterosexual people? That wasn't a rhetorical question. The only way I know to change attitudes is to really talk to people and address their concerns about gay and trans people one-on-one. Being sensitive to homophobia and transphobia isn't going to encourage Joe to check his pronoun use.
Advertising might help, some. Celebrity advertising is probably completely useless. How many of us really care about what movie stars think about social issues? And what if Matt Damon disagrees with you about how being gay is OK? Will you have a conversion experience and immediately go out to try and make gay friends?
Practical Action is the Key:
Getting people to give up gendered pronouns is going to take a very long time. And for what benefit really? How does anyone know this would make society more accepting of non-heterosexual persons? Maybe it will. If this is your position, you must be able to defend it. Calling the rest of us homophobic, or saying we are OK with throwing genderqueer people "under the bus" is just a way to cut off real discussion.
So, we are all responsible for managing our own feelings. Sensible people also (mostly) agree that society should have rules to protect people from outright oppression and discrimination. Those rules do give gay people some protections. The law in some US states and many EU nations does recognize gay marriage. Is there room for progress? Yes.
Changing Pronoun Use is Hopeless:
But, how to make progress? Is pushing for gender-neutral pronouns a good idea? Is encouraging everyone to find out what pronoun someone prefers a good idea? I doubt that even most gay people and trans people (who are trying to pass as their biological gender) would care.
I can read some minds now. So, what is your evidence that this evolution in pronoun use will make anything better for non-heterosexual people? That wasn't a rhetorical question. The only way I know to change attitudes is to really talk to people and address their concerns about gay and trans people one-on-one. Being sensitive to homophobia and transphobia isn't going to encourage Joe to check his pronoun use.
Advertising might help, some. Celebrity advertising is probably completely useless. How many of us really care about what movie stars think about social issues? And what if Matt Damon disagrees with you about how being gay is OK? Will you have a conversion experience and immediately go out to try and make gay friends?
Practical Action is the Key:
If you care about the rights of people who are not heterosexual, that's great. If you want to actually do something for them, that is even better. There is effectively no chance that gender-neutral pronouns will replace gendered pronouns.
Sticking with practical matters like getting gay marriage legalized in your state would be a better project to work on. You might be able to win a real victory against homophobic laws, regulations, or customs by using things like boycotts and petitions. Those activities are a better use of your time, really. Leave the symbolism to people who have more free time.
Sticking with practical matters like getting gay marriage legalized in your state would be a better project to work on. You might be able to win a real victory against homophobic laws, regulations, or customs by using things like boycotts and petitions. Those activities are a better use of your time, really. Leave the symbolism to people who have more free time.
