Billionaire Elon Musk, who acquired social media giant, Twitter, last year, has declared that the use of the words “cis” or “cisgender” – terms used by trans activists to insist that sex is “assigned” at birth – are considered ‘slurs’ on the platform.
Responding to a tweet from James Esses, a barrister who claims that, when studying to become a therapist, he was kicked off his degree course for expressing views critical of gender ideology, Musk addressed harassment on Twitter.
“Yesterday, after posting a Tweet saying that I reject the word ‘cis’ and don’t wish to be called it, I receive a slew of messages from trans activists calling me “cissy” and telling me that I am ‘cis’ “whether or not I like it”. Just imagine if the roles were reversed,” Esses wrote.
In response, Musk said: “Repeated, targeted harassment against any account will cause the harassing accounts to receive, at minimum, temporary suspensions.”
“The words “cis” or “cisgender” are considered slurs on this platform.”
Repeated, targeted harassment against any account will cause the harassing accounts to receive, at minimum, temporary suspensions.
The words “cis” or “cisgender” are considered slurs on this platform.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 21, 2023
Star Trek actor William Shatner is amongst many who have spoken out against the ‘cis’ label in the past.
Some need labels and categories to separate people in order to harass or debase them. The only time CIS is used when referring to me is in that way. 🤷🏼♂️ Do we need these labels in order to communicate? No. So those that use them when describing others are doing it for neg reasons. https://t.co/rsPGkvHE7N
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 3, 2020
“Anyone referring to me as cis is imposing an incorrect gender identity on me and I will not let it pass,” one feminist commentator wrote.
Irish author John Boyne wrote in the Irish Times that while he “wholeheartedly” supports “the rights of trans men and women and consider them courageous pioneers, it will probably make some unhappy to know that I reject the word “cis”, the term given by transgender people to their nontransgender brethren.”
“I don’t consider myself a cis man; I consider myself a man. For while I will happily employ any term that a person feels best defines them, whether that be transgender, non-binary or gender fluid to name but a few, I reject the notion that someone can force an unwanted term onto another,” he said.
James Esses replied to Musk to say ‘thank you for standing up for reality”.
Thank you for standing up for reality, Elon.
— James Esses (@JamesEsses) June 21, 2023
However, some disagreed with one response telling Esses: “Jimmy, you’re either cis-gender (meaning your gender matches your biological sex) or your trans-gender (meaning your gender is opposite your biological sex) If you “reject being cis” then you’re saying your trans. Reach out if you want to learn the meaning of more words.”