I think the idea is that Gender is more of a 'slider' and less of a black/white thing.
It's the same as saying "There are only three Colors in the color spectrum!" whereas you could argue there are almost infinite colors to be found in between which are separate and different from the main three colors.
Wether Drag King or Cross Dresser is a gender, I feel they are not as those titles implicitly imply the person being of one gender but 'cross'dressing as another. These are outward things, whereas one's gender is an inner feeling.
It bothers me that so many people are up in arms about these gender issues. If they don't affect you, and you identify normally as the majority of people: Why are you even concerned with this? It seems like there is a huge group of people huffing and puffing about what gender is and isn't and basically crossing into borderline discriminatory stances regarding other people's beliefs and lifestyles.
It all comes down to respect for other people. If somebody identifies as X and you refuse to treat that person as X, it's basically just being impolite and disrespectful.
I also feel like the discussion is being blown up by parties with political agenda's that oppose LGBT. I would like to see a more reliable source to back these claims up made by heatst, etc.
I just did my own google and came upon this article, which basically debunks the whole thing. Multiple source links within the article.
http://gothamist.com/2016/05/19/gender_pronouns_false_fine.php
It does not debunk the whole thing. It did not even debunk my sarcastic comment on refusing to call someone Zir and therefor being in danger of a legal punishment. It did however give clarity on the subject that you cant get fined for mistakenly calling a transgender him/her. There are 3 primary colours, there is no sliding.. It's more like saying every colour is a primary colour then saying there is only three colours..
I do not believe that one's gender is an inner feeling. By that logic, I can feel like I am a different species aswell, and therefore demand that you address me as a dog.. (like this girl: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/12127067/woman-says-she-is-a-cat-trapped-in-the-wrong-body.html). Would it be wrong of me not to adress her as a cat due to the fact that she is delusional?
I can also feel like a different age for that matter, and I could also feel like I am a girl (even though I am obviously not) and therefore demand cheaper car insurance for example, which is why this will evolve into a big political issue in the future in my opinion. So yes.. this is important, and it does affect me, and everyone else.
Why I am concerned? Cause you can get legally punished for having a different belief or opinion... As Peterson says, this is a danger for our freedom of speech. This is the biggest issue. I have no issue that someone gets angry at me for not calling them crossdresser or zir.. But I do have an issue when I can be legally punished for refusing to believe (or call) someone for something they (in my reality) clearly are not. And i also believe freedom of speech is much more essential to western society then the danger of being disrespectful. I am not saying you should be disrespectful in their face.. I am saying you should be able to, without being in danger of legal prosecution.
I have to say I completely agree with you on this one. Respect whatever gender someone identifies with. I really dont see why there is such a problem with being polite and respectful to someone. If you say your an apple i'll call you an apple. As long as your happy with your own life thats all that matters.
But do you agree with it being a crime to not call me an apple if i want to be called an apple? Not to mention the effect it will have on my mental health to hear everybody agreeing with me on the fact that I am an apple? Do you think the girl i linked will improve her mental state by everybody feeding her kibble and mouse and purring to her? I do belive I explained it fairly well in my response above.