Malicious Misgendering1Not using a preferred pronoun or saying a trans-man is NOT a woman. and “deadnaming” is being considered as a major offense resulting in up to 5 days suspension if a new policy is adopted by the Fairfax County Schools of Virginia.
The Fairfax County Public Schools Students Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) handbook, which will be voted on May 26, includes in its updated version rules that make “malicious deadnaming” and “malicious misgendering” of classmates a Level 4 offense, which allows for a suspension up to five days “if frequency and intensity are present,” according to page 19 of the document. “Using slurs based upon the actual or perceived gender identity” is forbidden under the rules of the document, “which includes, but is not limited to, malicious deadnaming or malicious misgendering.” The document defines “deadnaming” as “when someone, intentionally or not, refers to a person who is transgender or gender-expansive by a name other than their own chosen name.” Source: NY Post
I’m all for being kind to confused people. So I would use someone’s preferred name since I believe names are conventional.
BUT,
I would refuse to use preferred pronouns that don’t match biological reality. Which also means you can’t be a Plural Person either.
For example: they / them / theirs will not be used in reference to one person. Example: Janice scored well on their final paper; they received an A.
That is irrational! It is rebellion against bodily reality.
When in the presence of someone confused about the sex they were born with, out of courtesy, I will use their preferred name. And skip the pronouns.
And I would teach my children and grandchildren to do the same.
We live in a confused world that needs a lot of love but zero capitulation if that world insists on denying the world God created.
Like some unorthodox Christian groups!
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Love Refuses to Affirm Confusion