Cole favors bullies over vulnerable kids

This is in response to Althea Cole’s October 8 column, where she rants about pronouns.

Ms. Cole’s maximum outrage is focused on a hypothetical student who does not “respect” another kid’s preferred pronouns (the quotes are hers, which is telling in itself). Having a policy about that would violate the student’s right to free expression. Well, what about the effect on the student who is experiencing gender dysphoria — does that matter? Dysphoria is a real thing, and kids who suffer from it are vulnerable. But Ms. Cole thinks it is OK to kick people who are down, in favor of protecting the rights of bullies. And Althea is spurring them on, so that her so-called candid world is an increasingly dangerous place.

Finally, she complains about gender-identity activists who include their pronouns in email signatures and such, even though they are often not themselves transgender. I am one of those people. I wear a pride bracelet and sign my pronouns so that those in the trans community know that I am on their side; they can safely talk to me. I also do this to let others know that it is not OK to demonize teenage kids for purely political purposes. So, Ms. Cole, thank you for reacting. I fervently hope that you never use your pronouns in your signature; doing so would be misleading. You are not an empathetic listener.

Russ Lenth

North Liberty