SpaceX founder and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has once again become embroiled in a transgender rights-related row over his reaction to an article that slammed his stance on netizens using pronouns in their bios.
Some Twitter users prefer to add “he/him” or “she/her” in their Twitter bios in order to underscore their preferred gender pronouns, something that is often done either by transgender people themselves or others in a show of solidarity.
“I absolutely support trans, but all these pronouns are an esthetic nightmare”, Musk tweeted on Wednesday, in response to a think piece by efficient vehicle enthusiast and writer Jennifer Sensiba published on the website CleanTechnica earlier that day.
In the article, Sensiba berated Musk for previously tweeting a meme showing a colonial-era UK soldier rubbing his blood-covered hands on his face, captioned: “When you put he/him in ur bio”. The soldier was shown with the words “I love to oppress” written on his hat.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2020
“The problem is that most people who put pronouns in their Twitter bios aren’t trying to oppress anyone. They’re trying to signal to transgender people that they matter”, Sensiba pointed out.
pronouns are import to trans people. Not respecting them is not respecting trans people
— Wīłł (@Martian_Will) December 16, 2020
He/she/they isn't a nightmare. Pronouns in bios hurts nobody, and may help some folks. While I personally don't get the point, if that's how someone wants to express themselves, live and let live.
— Tesla Tidbits (@teslatidbits) December 16, 2020
The billionaire entrepreneur’s “esthetic nightmare” remarks were, meanwhile, immediately сriticised by many Twitter users, with some pointing to the fact that Musk “gave his daughter a name that nobody will be able to pronounce”.
Elon, its not hard. If someone wants to be considered woman, you call her "her". If he wants to be considered a guy, you call him "him". And if neither works, "they" or "them" is perfectly gramatical. Thats it! Thats the whole deal. Whats so hard?
— AnAsinineWizard.🏳️🌈 (@AnActualWizard) December 17, 2020
isn't your son named after my wifi password ?
— ✮ Lucas ✮ (@thefakevirgin) December 16, 2020
Didn’t you name your child after the noise that dial up Internet used to make?
— JC Chasez’s Thug Appeal (@Robert_Leon_90) December 16, 2020
So you a billionaire, is mad about people having preferred pronouns? You named your child like a type of software system but pronouns are an issue? pic.twitter.com/NtJxCn4WFL
— Anastasia (@iamanastasiabc1) December 16, 2020
“Hello I’d like to talk to you about ESTHETICS” pic.twitter.com/6PmBDiUBUz
— Carlos Maza (@gaywonk) December 17, 2020
Said the guy who gave his daughter a name that nobody will be able to pronounce. pic.twitter.com/ALlBpGQVa1
— Daily MCU Spidey Frames (@SpideyFrame) December 16, 2020
Earlier this year, Musk confirmed that he had named his baby X Æ A-12, prompting netizens to scratch their heads.
