Let's say your name is Bob. You introduce yourself to someone as "Hi, I'm Bob." That person says, "Nice to meet you, Juliet."
You say, "Um, no. My name isn't Juliet. It's Bob. I'm a man."
That person goes "Whatever you say, Julie, you're still going to be a girl to me. Have you thought about wearing more makeup, though? Your face looks terrible. You'll never attract a husband that way."
By now, you'd be getting upset right? "Look, I told you. My name is Bob. I am a man. I am not interested in wearing makeup or attracting a husband. I have a girlfriend and I'm quite happily heterosexual."
And that person says "No matter what you say, I'm still going to treat you like a woman because that's what you are. You're just deluding yourself if you think otherwise. Maybe you need a real man to straighten you out, eh?"
Gentle readers, if you were in this situation, I would fully support you if you decided to punch that asshole right in the face. It is, to use the vernacular, fucking rude, yo, to disagree with someone as to what name they have and what gender they are.
Are we all in agreement on this? Good. Now we can get to the "why" of this post.
This is Christopher Todd Beck. He is a SEAL with over 20 years of experience. He's been deployed seven times, and has earned (among other awards) a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with Valor. He is braver than 90% of us will ever be.
This is Kristin Beck. She used to be Chris Beck. She served her country valiantly, and when she retired from the Navy, she decided to transition to the woman she knew that she always was. She still earned all those medals, and she is still braver than 90% of us ever will be.
Do you get what I am saying here? Let me spell it out for you, just in case: You are entitled to have an opinion about this, but by God, you will call this woman by her proper name. This isn't PC-ness; this is basic, entry-level human courtesy.
If you're one of those people who says "I don't care what he does to himself, he's still a man" -- well, I'm glad you have an opinion. I will even defend your right to say it aloud. But I, and a bunch of other folks, will take you to task for your rudeness, and if someone gets punched in the face for being a jerk... well, you had it coming.
Want to support this lady? Buy her book.
Lesson over.
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