Actor and Filmmaker Thishiwe Ziqubu. Images via Instagram: @thishiwe
It is often admirable when someone openly lets the world know who they are and how they wish to be addressed. But this doesn’t happen often enough, especially when it comes to genderqueer individuals. Misgendering people has become a norm, and not because we can’t address people by their preferred pronouns, we simply won’t. Why? It remains a mystery because what do you stand to lose if you put your prejudice aside and treat someone with the same respect you would appreciate yourself?
Thishiwe Ziqubu wants you to address him correctly
Just last week, actor Thishiwe Ziqubu politely let his followers know that it doesn’t sit well with him when he gets misgendered. But people did not take kindly to that. They didn’t take it as an opportunity to do better. Instead, intrusive, offensive, and disrespectful comments filled his comments section.
“Please don’t call me Tish. That is not my name. My name is Thishiwe. Please don’t call me girl or actress. I’m trans and I’m an actor. Thanks.” Tweeted @thishiweziqubu
Please don’t call me Tish. That is not my name. My name is Thishiwe. Please don’t call me girl or actress. I’m trans and I’m an actor. Thanks.
— Thishiwe Ziqubu (He/Him/They/Them) (@thishiweziqubu) May 30, 2023
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, misgendering means using the wrong pronouns or other gender-specific words when referring to or speaking to someone, especially a transgender person. A transgender person is a person whose gender does not align with or match the body they were born with.
Most people, especially those happy to contribute to the discrimination and prejudice of the LGBTIQ+ community, say this is confusing. But what is puzzling is that grown people refuse to accept a simple matter. Do not other people, and make them feel less than others, address them by their preferred pronouns.
Someone in the comments asked Thishiwe why he feels the need to explain his sexuality? If the question would have stopped there, it would have been palatable. But it continued with an ignorant “I was born female, and I am female sexually, however I have not needed to tell this to anyone” You haven’t had to explain it to anyone because your sex and gender identity are aligned.
“I get misgendered a lot and I need to correct it.” Responded Thishiwe to that question.
Even after that response, the comments did not get any better. Proving that it doesn’t matter if you slice a piece of your time to try and educate people about the LGBTIQ+ community. If the ears you are trying to reach don’t want to hear it, they won’t.
