America's Forgotten Non-Binaries

I have to tell you that living in America today can be a confusing experience.  Maybe not for you, but, for me, it sometimes is.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a satirical post regarding the bathroom situation vis-a-vis the transgender controversy (Remodeling America's Bathrooms).  The whole thing is so ludicrous that satire is the only response I have for it.  I guess what confuses me is that there are those who take this whole thing so seriously.

I reckon I'm a man out of place in time.  1860 anyone?

If it weren't so deadly serious, it would actually be humorous.  I can easily imagine, in the not too distant past, comics writing whole routines on the subject.  The jokes would be funny because they would be so outrageous.  Today, however, those would-be jokes are reality, not the fevered imaginings of the comic.

You probably think I'm joking about this.  Sadly, no.

In Minnesota, there is a proposal by the School Safety Technical Assistance Council (who makes up names like this?) to help the plight of transgender students.  Proposals include dismissing all gender-based pronouns.  No more he, she, him, or her.  No more boys and girls, instead, we must say "students" or "scholars."

Homecoming King or Queen?  Not on your life.  Now we hail the "Prom Ambassadors."  But let's give credit where it's due: they are not completely inflexible.  They do make provision for the phrase "Homecoming Royalty."

As an aside, I would have thought that the word "Royalty" would have been banned because it suggests that some student scholars are better than others.  On the other hand, maybe everyone who attends the prom gets a participation trophy, so the zero-sum game is maintained.  I'm just not sure what the rules are anymore.

The extra bathrooms go without saying.  Any student who is uncomfortable sharing a bathroom with a transgender student is welcome to go use the single-user bathroom.  Again, I'm confused.  Why doesn't the transgender "scholar" go use the single user bathroom?  Surely there are fewer transgender scholars, right?

There's more, but I'm getting sick of talking about this.

Let's go to the nation's capitol.  In Washington, D.C., there is a new box to check on the driver's license application.  You may check "male," "female," or "X."

I don't know what an "X" is.  But, get this, they call it "non-binary."

So, Washington, D.C. has a non-binary option on their driver's license application.

Hooray.  It's a topic that has haunted Americans for generations.  Holy cow, have we gone collectively insane?

It would be hard to prove otherwise, I suppose.

It's days like these that really do make me feel like a curmudgeon.  I used to joke about being an old grouch, but it's becoming a reality.

Kind of like transgender bathroom privileges.

It's just not that funny anymore.

TheCurmudgeon

p.s.  I'm BINARY, dammit.