FAFO: Preferred pronouns edition

A hero citizen of Wyoming named Britt Boril gave the state legislature a little taste of Fuck Around and Find Out during a public hearing on the “What is a Woman Act,” which seeks to define terms like “man” and “woman” as strictly cisgender. The legislature had recently voted in favor of another bill that would prohibit requiring the use of preferred pronouns.

Boril addressed the chairman, Tim French, as “Madame Chairman.” He protested, saying that he preferred to be called Mr. Chairman, to which she replied, “Well, I cannot be compelled to use your preferred pronouns, as you have all voted to allow.” 

Tim didn’t much like being called Madame. This was such a great way to make a point about the hypocrisy of the application of this legislation. Of course, it is no secret that supporters of this law and others like it will only enforce it in situations involving people they don’t like, meaning trans people.

Seriously, how is it that hard to just call someone what they want to be called? How is it harming you to do that? Why is it so hard for some people to just be KIND to others?

Also: how is using someone’s preferred pronouns, which may differ from what’s on their birth certificate, any different than calling someone by a different name than what’s on their birth certificate? People do that every single day with nicknames. I have never gone by what’s on my birth certificate. This dude’s name is Tim. What do you want to bet that his birth certificate says Timothy? But he wants you to call him something different. I’m guessing that he has never made that logical connection.