I think we are on the same 'side'. I see no burden in affording to each the right to wear what he wants or say what he wants, even if that offends me.
I am fiercely pro free speech and my problem is with allowing the state to decide and propagate the language that is allowed or not allowed.
Besides, whether or not changing language can change attitudes is surely debatable
I will leave you with these 3 links.
https://nypost.com/2016/05/19/city-issues-new-guidelines-on-transgender-pronouns/
http://dailysignal.com/2017/10/06/california-can-now-jail-people-for-misusing-gender-pronouns/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5073511/Teacher-suspended-praising-pupil-using-wrong-gender.html
I'm sorry but I can oblige ;) When I read something I enjoy, I'm going to vote for it and it's inspiring to me that you are doing this challenge so I want to support. I can hold off on the percentages for a bit, but that's the most I'm ready to give up ;)
Yer a gas man! Thanks.
I never really doubted we're on the same side really. Regulating how you can address somebody is a bit much, I totally agree. But we should also notice that the fines are possible only if "malicious intent" is proven and that's a hard thing to prove and a much more substantial legal burden than just using an unwanted pronoun. So to get a fine, they need to prove that you used the wrong pronouns with the specific purpose of harassing the person.
In the other cases, it needs to be clear that codes of conduct that can be enforced at a particular workplace are neither law, nor government regulation and as many other things, crimes are not the only reason one could be suspended or fired.
Of course, pointing out overreactions is important, like with the links you shared here.