"Repeated, targeted harassment against any account will cause the harassing accounts to receive, at minimum, temporary suspensions," Musk stated, emphasizing the platform's commitment to fostering a safe digital environment.
This declaration came in response to a complaint from commentator James Esses. Esses had reported being harassed online, with the term 'cis' used derogatorily against him. "Yesterday, after posting a Tweet saying that I reject the word 'cis' and don't wish to be called it, I received a slew of messages from trans activists calling me 'cissy' and telling me that I am 'cis' 'whether or not I like it'," Esses revealed.
June 21, 2023
Esses had previously rejected the terminology, which has come under criticism for creating a binary distinction between trans and non-trans people. He argued that using the term against his will constituted bigotry. "I formally and publicly declare that I reject the label of 'cis'. I don't believe in gender ideology. I don't self-identify as 'cis'. Using this term makes me feel unsafe and is demonstrative of your hatred towards me. Anyone who uses the term 'cis' to describe me is a bigot," Esses stated on Twitter.
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Many critics of gender ideology, who advocate for recognizing biological sex as a constant in reality, have echoed Esses's sentiments, contending that the term 'cis' can be weaponized as a pejorative.
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June 21, 2023
In defense of the term, Dane Defosse, who originally introduced it in 1994, told HuffPo that the word's detractors are the problem, not the word itself. He argued that the term is significant because it delineates biological sex from the socially constructed categories of 'woman' and 'man,' challenging heteronormative notions. "The word is a threat because it linguistically separates biological sex from socially constructed categories of 'woman' and 'man.' That gender is a social construction undermines heteronormativity, critical to defending patriarchal sex roles and procreation. It is not surprising that those who have garnered dominance and privilege from traditional gender roles feel threatened and compelled to lash out," Defosse argued.
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This policy change comes after controversies surrounding Twitter's stance on gender terminology. Before Musk's stewardship, the platform's terms of service prohibited "misgendering," using a gendered time inconsistent with an individual's self-identified gender. A breach of this policy led to the suspension of several accounts, including that of commentator Meghan Murphy. However, there were no penalties for imposing the term "cis" on individuals, even if they didn't self-identify as such.
Musk's recent action signifies a shift in Twitter's policy towards individual self-identification, no longer requiring individuals to accept the label of "non-trans" as a default.
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