Ok trans folks, I got a question for you...
Why is gender identity different than religion? Or at least, with regards to social protocols around how you respect religious people's identities and beliefs when they're not around, vs when they are?
Like sure, 'use people's preferred pronouns' when gender people are around seems similar to not saying "jesus fucking christ," when your Christian friends are around (though I'm skeptical most people have that level of respect for their Christian friends, probably the opposite).
That said, when they're not around, who cares. How is it any different to talk about Ellen Page as Ellen Page if she's not in the same room as you, any more than it is to say "Jesus Fucking Christ," when my Christian mom isn't around? Why (and how!) does the former seem to 'hurt' and disrespect the gender person, but the former does not hurt or disrespect the religion person?
There are many other instances this applies to, but for now I'm happy to keep it to religious identity as it seems like a great dupe for gender identity - it is immaterial, unprovable, both parties often believe that "Everyone has a gender/religious soul. some people just haven't realized it yet," requires articles of faith, adherence to the ideologies can be measured by certain rituals and lifestyles, though one can "be" a gender/religious person without partaking in any of these songs and dances... they simply need to tell them they are X... and they are X.
Anyway, color me curious and ty!
(I do realize not all trans people are gender ideology identitarians)