Androgynous, non-binary bully

Last week at the VA hospital in Tampa, as I was finishing an evaluation in the physical therapy department, one of the technicians spoke to someone at the door. I glanced up and saw (a) one of the most unfeminine women ever, or (b) a 6-foot-tall man wearing a blonde wig and a flowery dress that demanded “See me!” The technician and the person in the doorway exchanged a couple more comments, but I paid no attention, not having any interest in what (b) might have to say about anything. As we were driving away from the facility, my wife said, “That guy in the dress certainly wanted people to see him.” I agreed.

Tonight my wife and I watched the second episode of the new “Quantum Leap.” So far, I do not care for the program. People in charge hit all the modern TV program boxes – a limited number of white men as major characters (none); at least one black person in a supervisory/leadership role; a woman in a leadership role (two, actually – one Asian, the other white); an Asian man as lead; and going above requirements, the most androgynous character ever.  That actor I gave a short Google. His parents gave him a a man’s name at birth; he prefers “they/their”; he says he is non-binary. All references in the article I read said such things as, “they were born…” and “they performed in…”

Watching more episodes is problematic, and not only because of the “is he or isn’t he?” character. TV programs now have too many characters claiming major or semi-major roles. You have to give the non-whites a sufficient amount of camera time, or be accused of favoritism.

I mentioned the “non-binary” actors’ pronoun preferences to my wife. She said, “He has the right to say how he wishes to be called. But, I have just as much right to call him whatever I wish.”

A few minutes later she said, “That man in the dress at the VA. He probably insists on people calling him what he wants. Most people probably do, even though they think he is wrong. He is forcing people to speak the way he wants. He is a bully.”