“Non-binary people are actually really non-binary” is an opinion. It’s an opinion that you and I both agree with, but it’s still an opinion. The whole construct of gender and how society views it is little more than opinion. Whether you believe that there are two genders or 100+ genders, you simply have an opinion on the matter.
“Rachel Dolezal is not black” is also an opinion. Her genome contains the necessary coding for her to be ‘black’ because of our evolutionary history. According to the argument you’re suggesting her race (protected characteristic) is a matter of her opinion and nobody else’s — once other people challenge her on it, they are using their right to freedom of speech to behave like a bigot. That’s her subjective experience.
You have decided that gender can be transmuted but race and species cannot. That is entirely your opinion based on what you have read — but you are one person and don’t speak for all of society. If someone wants to identify and live as a wolf, should they be free to do so or not? I think they should.. but I don’t think society should be forced to adapt around their wolfishness — unless society deems that it should — which it might.
I’m not denying that a group of people exist, the opposite is true. I’m asserting the human right to identify however you please free from state interference (that’s the libertarian part) — but I am also asserting the right of society to disagree with that assertion as part of the process of change. I am suggesting that society can live in a relatively harmonious way even with this disagreement in place provided everyone agrees to behave like compassionate adults.
The progressive left movement frequently falls into the trap of labelling everyone who disagrees with them as a bigot. It happens on Medium all the time. This is counter productive to the overall process of change — because it means that there is no introspection on what is being suggested or put forward. As long as you agree with it, it meets the criteria for being put forward — it’s one of the reasons why the various progressive movements invariably rip each other apart.
There are huge gaping holes in these arguments that need to be explored. We’re having a worthwhile and interesting discussion about one now — where the limits of self identification begin and end — but you are already trying to close the conversation.
“If you don’t believe in that, there’s nowhere for this discussion to go”
That statement taken out of context should show you the extent of the progressive left problem. Either you agree with me and my world view, or we can’t talk about it. It is a hugely problematic way of trying to change a society. I don’t think for a second you’re a bigot — because you’re being respectful, polite and I am enjoying our discussion and debate — but this definition of bigotry should help you see the problem. In the psychological narratives we tell ourselves, we’re always the good guy.
bigotry
noun
noun: bigotry; plural noun: bigotries
- intolerance towards those who hold different opinions from oneself.
