Almost half of millennials believe that using incorrect pronouns should be considered a “criminal offense,” according to a survey.
A New Survey Reveals Millennials’ Views on Misgendering
A recent survey conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies has shed light on the opinions of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 regarding misgendering. The findings are quite surprising and have sparked a heated debate.
According to the survey, a significant 44 percent of respondents in this age group believe that misgendering should be considered a crime. On the other hand, only 31 percent firmly believe that it should not be a crime. The remaining 25 percent either chose not to answer or claimed to be unsure.
The numbers were slightly different for respondents aged 35 to 44. In this age group, 38 percent support the idea of making misgendering illegal, while 35 percent oppose it. The remaining 26 percent did not take a stance on the issue.
Interestingly, the survey revealed that those between the ages of 18 and 24 were not in favor of criminalizing misgendering. In this age group, 48 percent stated that misgendering should not be considered a crime, while 33 percent believed it should be. The rest either did not have a clear opinion or chose not to respond.
I don’t misgender; I speak reality while polite and kind, honest, and straightforward. At the same time it’s a crime to cut off the organs God gave you.
— Christine Beach (Formally Brejcha) (@ChristineBrejc1) July 16, 2023
Overall, the survey population of 1,500 respondents was predominantly against the idea of criminalizing misgendering. The majority, 65 percent, opposed the addition of a new crime related to pronouns. In contrast, 19 percent supported the idea, and the remaining 16 percent either did not have a clear stance or claimed to be unsure.
The Pew Research Center defines millennials as individuals between the ages of 27 and 42. The survey also included Generation Z, which encompasses those born between 1997 and 2012, although the sample only included individuals who were 18 and older.
When it comes to addressing individuals who have chosen to reject their biological gender in favor of their preferred pronouns, the survey found that respondents were largely trying to be respectful and considerate.
37 percent of those surveyed said they would use the pronoun choice preferred by a man who identifies as female. Another 28 percent said their decision would depend on the individual. 17 percent stated that they would use biology as their guide, while an equal number claimed to be unsure. The results were similar for women who identify as male, with 37 percent willing to use their preferred pronouns, 27 percent depending on the individual, 18 percent using their biological gender, and 18 percent unsure.
Newsweek recently reported on a Michigan law that is currently being debated and could potentially make misgendering a crime.
House Bill 4474, which has passed the state’s House and is under consideration by the Senate, classifies refusing to abide by pronoun preferences as a hate crime. It defines hate speech as any verbal act that causes someone to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened.
As a result of this, I will now misgender every Democrat in Michigan. Free speech.
Michigan House passes bill making wrong pronouns a felony, fineable up to $10,000https://t.co/NIyEt4qoQj
— Wade Miller (@WadeMiller_USMC) June 30, 2023
However, some argue that this is not an attempt to police language. According to the Detroit News, Republican state Rep. Graham Filler, who voted in favor of the bill, stated, ”We’re talking about intimidating, threatening violence. This is not the sardonic teller at the bank.”
Eli Savit, a Democrat and Washtenaw County prosecutor, argued that the law does not infringe upon the First Amendment.
“If somebody says, ‘I do not believe you are a man, I believe you are a woman’ and misgenders someone, even intentionally, that is not a crime. That is First Amendment protected speech… I don’t believe it’s a kind thing to say. But it’s not a crime,” Savit explained, as reported by the Detroit News.
Democratic state Rep. Noah Arbit, the bill’s sponsor, clarified that the intention is to update existing laws and emphasized that the idea of prosecuting someone for misgendering is preposterous.
It’s apparently felonious to misgender a person in Michigan now. What happens if you can’t exactly tell what they are?
— Roberto il Destro (@destroil1) July 16, 2023
However, Republican state Rep. Angela Rigas disagrees with this explanation. According to the Daily Wire, Rigas believes that Michigan is now allowing the issue of gender identity to be used as a protected class, which she sees as problematic.
“The state of Michigan is now explicitly allowing the gender delusion issue to be used as a ’protected class.’ This opens up numerous issues when it comes to the courts and the continued weaponization of the system against conservatives,” Rigas argued.
She added, “It seems Dems want to be in the business of telling people how to think. We are determined to keep choice and opinion a free choice despite those efforts.”
The debate surrounding misgendering and pronoun usage continues to be a contentious topic, with strong opinions on both sides. It remains to be seen how this issue will evolve in the future.
The post Using Wrong Pronouns Should Be ‘Criminal Offense,’ Say Almost Half of Millennials: Survey appeared first on The Western Journal.
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