I sometimes, occasionally, dip into this apparently never-ending thread. Series of threads. Which is not meant as a dismissive observation, I think the arguments both sides put down make for interesting reading, when one happens to look in; and, taken in small doses, the back-and-forth sniping can be entertaining, as well!
Me, I'm undecided, really. Earlier on, when there was actually a trans person commenting here, I found myself in her favor, given that here was an actual person who's putting herself out, and all she's asking is we refer to her as a 'she'. So that it seemed somewhat perverse not to accede to her wish. But, and like I said, in the abstract, I'd say I'm undecided. Both sides make compelling enough arguments!
So anyway, I was generally wondering what exactly all of this hoo-haa actually amounts to. How many people actually are trans? No doubt the seasoned debaters on this subject are well aware of this stat, but I was not; and so I looked it up: and apparently the number is less than a percentage point! (Link:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/transgender-population-by-state)
That's such a small number, that I'd suggest that, regardless of the merits of the arguments on either side, that tiny number itself makes an argument for accommodation of these folks. Half a percentage point overall, I mean to say! (Although yes, I agree, the argument some make, that there are, or might be, predators out there who misuse the self-ID route in order to, well, get into spaces where they've no business entering, does make sense; and I've no counter-argument to that; like I said I'm undecided on the question. Just, the tiny percentage itself, it seems to me, makes an argument for accommodation these people, regardless of other, more substantial arguments, on either side of the question.)
