Greatest Correction Evah!!!
Harvard University predictably hired its first permanent director of bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and queer student life. The only surprise I had was that this was the first one.
Van Bailey, the assistant director for education at the University of California, San Diego, will assume the position on July 16.
The article in the Crimson is predictable in every way but then comes the correction which is just too perfect. Here it is:
CORRECTION: July 3How awesome is that?
An earlier version of this article used the pronoun "she" to refer to Vanidy "Van" Bailey, the newly appointed director of bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and queer student life. In fact, Bailey prefers not to be referred to by any gendered pronoun.
HT Phi Beta Cons
12 comments:
Okay, did he/she/it provide an alternative, or are we just supposed to stumble through any formal introductions? And how is it that someone assumes the right to correct everybody in sight for using a common social convention?
I the reference to he/she/ti "assuming the position"...pun intended???
"it" (I really should check my typing before hitting 'send') oops : p
David, presumably such a free thinking paragon of equality would likewise shun the use of an honorific.
"In fact, Bailey prefers not to be referred to by any gendered pronoun." It looks like Harvard could use a few more philologists in place of such faculty. A non-gendered pronoun does not exist.
I believe "comrade" is the preferred term.
I'm all for referring to the staff member as "he/she/it". Because if you say it too fast, it sounds like "He's sheeeit." :D
This is the stunning result of gender neutral thinking. perhaps He/she/it could just choose a symbol like Prince did. then the symbol could be pronounced: "HESHEEIT". That covers the base, right?
I propose that the new non-gendered pronoun should be "idiot." Thus, "This is Van Bailey. Idiot doesn't want to be categorized by idiot's x chromosome."
"How awesome is that?"
Almost as awesome as the name: Vanidy Van Bailey! Seriously?
Other than that I can only offer the usual: I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH THERAPY SOME PEOPLE NEED!
There are no non-gendered pronouns in any Indo-European or Uralic languages—the former are usually masculine-feminine-(sometimes) neuter, and the latter (and some Indic languages) animate-inanimate. Does Van Bailey refuse to be spoken of in any language but Japanese (where the pronouns mean "this one, that one, that one over yonder")?
"It" works for me.
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