Actress Sarah Paulson has become a lightning rod for transgender fans following a Twitter interaction with one of her followers. Fans continue to debate if Paulson is secretly transphobic after the exchange.
Paulson, the openly queer actress known for her roles in Ratched and American Horror Story, came under fire on the Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31) for a simple reason: she does not include her pronouns as part of her Twitter profile. User @MLFSCM chastised Paulson for the omission, charging the actress is transphobic for not doing so.
“Put ur pronouns in your bio, it’s not that hard,” @MLFSCM wrote.
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The criticism elicited a response from Paulson, who didn’t seem to hold back. “It’s also not that hard for you to not tell what to do,” Paulson tweeted back.
It’s also not that hard for you to not tell what to do ?????
— Sarah Paulson (@MsSarahPaulson) March 31, 2021
@MLFSCM has since deleted the tweet, though that hasn’t stopped Twitter from raging over Paulson’s pronouns, or lack thereof. Some transgender fans and their allies have rushed to defend Paulson, noting her history of solidarity with transgender people in the past.
Thousands of people on twitter, celebrity or not, don't list pronouns in their profiles. I prefer not to but please don't assume what this means about me or anyone else. Your strongest allies may not list pronouns. It is a personal choice.
— Vivian Kasey ??? (@lbkasey) March 31, 2021
“Thousands of people on twitter, celebrity or not, don’t list pronouns in their profiles,” noted user Vivan Kasey. “I prefer not to but please don’t assume what this means about me or anyone else. Your strongest allies may not list pronouns. It is a personal choice.”
I didn’t see the viciousness because I wasn’t on at the time but I’m repulsed people were so brutal towards you and your wife.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) April 1, 2021
“I didn’t see the viciousness because I wasn’t on at the time but I’m repulsed people were so brutal towards you and your wife,” added Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette, sister of the late transgender actress Alexis Arquette.
Thank you for this. She did mention before she doesn't want to label herself. I hope people does not force this unto others. If someone could've asked her in a nice way– i don't think her response would be the same.
— Jadie | Sarah Paulson ILY (@love_sarahp) April 1, 2021
“She did mention before she doesn’t want to label herself,” said user @love_sarahp. “I hope people does not force this unto others. If someone could’ve asked her in a nice way– i don’t think her response would be the same.”
On the other hand, those calls for patience and privacy went unheeded by other Twitter users, who went so far as to accuse Paulson of being a closet transphobe.
The reason it’s done is for solidarity with the trans community, and it’s trans day of visibility. It’s done to make the internet a safer place for trans people. Please put your pronouns in your bio and rethink this tweet
— ?Suzanne? (@cxptainjaneway) March 31, 2021
“The reason it’s done is for solidarity with the trans community, and it’s trans day of visibility,” noted @cxptainjaneway. “It’s done to make the internet a safer place for trans people. Please put your pronouns in your bio and rethink this tweet.”
miss paulson it’s the least u could do to show allyship and be a decent human
— owa owa ??? (@raewalkermv) March 31, 2021
“Miss paulson it’s the least u could do to show allyship and be a decent human,” tweeted @raewalkermv.
i hope you learn to realize how much you could help trans individuals and youth by normalizing pronouns in bios. it takes 2 seconds, but makes a big impact. genuinely hoping you reconsider and add them soon.
— rowan (@dizzycows) April 1, 2021
“i hope you learn to realize how much you could help trans individuals and youth by normalizing pronouns in bios. it takes 2 seconds, but makes a big impact. genuinely hoping you reconsider and add them soon,” added @dizzycows.
At the time of this writing, Paulson has yet to further engage in the debate. Historically speaking, Paulson has shown herself to be an ally of the transgender community in the past. Last year, Paulson attacked author JK Rowling on Twitter for her transphobic remarks. In 2018, Paulson also issued harsh criticism of Donald Trump‘s ban on transgender people serving in the military.
Donston
Sarah probably would have been better off just not responding. But this type of stuff is partly why it’s so easy to perceive “woke” and “ally” social media as bullies and as attempting to control people, going beyond demanding respect.
There are plenty of reasons why folks don’t put pronouns in their bio. It’s a personal choice. And it’s pretty much only unabashed “queers” who are pressured to do it. Hell, many trans people and people who feel they are non-binary don’t put pronouns in their bio’s. This is not something people should be shamed into doing or should feel shame for not embracing. It has nothing to do with trans protection, as much as some of these people keep trying to convince themselves of such.
whatsaywhat
Just because you’re trans, doesn’t mean you aren’t a bossy, obnoxious c*nt.
And just because someone refuses to be ordered around by a lone transgendered bully, it doesn’t make them transphobic.
Wentz
Her twitter handle is literally “Ms. Sarah Paulson”. Any person with two braincells can infer her pronouns from that. People need to get over themselves and stop alienating allies.
Donston
We need to generally get rid of the theology of “allies”. It’s passé as hell. And only “queers” still concern themselves with this “ally” nonsense. People don’t need some special terminology or perceived culture for showing bare minimum support to a group or for just being a decent human being.
Catholicslutbox
Making mountains out of a molehill.
That was a nonissue.
Bosch
This is ridiculous.
There are enough REAL enemies out there, we don’t need to be inventing new ones.
How can we stop letting narcissists lead public opinion?
Wicked Dickie
There is a thin line between ally and bully.
ScottOnEarth
Jesus, what has become of this pitiful society where each and every person and faction is so ultra-sensitive and narcissistic that anyone deviating from their script is vilified? Sarah is an individual who can write anything she wants – or not write anything she wants – in any of her profiles. The bullying she received for exercising her freedom of choice is really ridiculous.
4greg
Well said!!!
eeebee333
100% with you, Scott.
Mr. Stadnick
Spot on! A bully is a bully and they will find their way to bully. I pity a bully but applaud anyone who stands up to a bully!
Roy Moss
I’ve never seen anything so stupid as people feeling the need to announce their pronouns. It’s really just silly, stupid and petty.
Toofie
Beyond ridiculous. People desperately looking for something to be offended by.
Yooper
A simple “F#$K OFF” would have been the appropriate response to such an asinine demand.
missvamp
Announcing my pronouns doesn’t make or break me as an ally. If random queers on the internet think that is all that makes someone an ally- they need to get a f*cking clue. Smdh
JustMuscles1
Wow, okay, so now I feel like I did when I was 23 yo. I didn’t understand a single word high school kids were talking about as their vocabulary and definitions of identifying certain generational things just flew over my head. I’m at that point again, except now I’m 60.
People can call themselves whatever they like but to expect others to understand where they’re coming from entirely takes patience as acceptance as much as their desire to be understood as accepted.
BoomerMyles
The’s ultra woke and SJW”s are becoming the Reign of Terror from the French Revolution. They’re just going to alienate ally”s and face more prejudice alone.
I think it’s insulting for me to include pronouns. I’m cisgendered and present as male. Including pronouns makes people infer I’m something other.
spacecadet
Huh? If you present as male, how does including your pronouns as he/him/his make people infer you’re something other? Wouldn’t it just reinforce what you present as?
Cam
@BoomerMyles IF you’re going to pretend to not be a right wing troll, you may want to avoid using FOX News terms.
Winsocki
Hey You get off of my Cloud… What the hell with these thought police that boss and toss . Middle finger to you. Pronouns not posted. Thank you Cousin It. I do no care what gender you call yourself or a wooden dummy. Quit bossing folks around that are not your enemies. Just go by Miss Thang and be done with it.
Joshua333
There’s a difference between asking her and telling her. No one wants to be told to do this, maybe if they approached her in a nicer way and ASKED her then she probably would have done it. Serious people, telling people to do something and backing them into an uncomfortable corner is not a great way to make allies.
Den
This is a ridiculous issue.
If people choose to use specific atypical pronouns, we should try and remember to honor their choice. If people see no need to indicate “their pronouns”, it is what it is, and is obviously not a political comment nor indicative of a lack of support for anyone!
People need to get over themselves sometimes and not force their self-absorption on others.
Josh447
A professor named Nicholas Meriwether at Shawnee University in Ohio just won a legal case in the 6th Circuit Court against an issue with the university for not using a transgender students preferred pronouns. When threatened with losing his job for not doing so he sued and is on a winning streak.
I’m glad this whole pronoun issue has now gone to court and that three circuit judges appointed by republican presidents have ruled against schools demanding their teachers use pronouns desired by the students due to the teacher’s first amendment rights.
This is a landmark case and will set precedent for future pronoun issues being forced on people who disagree.
Professor Meriweather has retained his job at the University.
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Cam
Wow, this screename for the same old account REALLY wanted to post his little screed about that court case.
Quick hint, if you’re going to cut and paste, you may want to leave off the part at the bottom that shows your initial comment was screened out.
Paulie P
The whole he/him her/she craze is a ridiculous use of pronouns.
I have received numerous emails and the signature will say he/him…. or her/she… what does that have to do with the context of said email?
Did i fall asleep one day and miss the lets put pronouns everywhere to support others? You want my support you’ve got it on other ways. But putting he/him after my name are just extra letters I don’t need to type.
mudgeguy
I hate hearing this kind of thing from fringe elements of the trans crowd and all it will do is stir up the “drop the T” movement yet again. I can’t see how this type of weird accusation helps anyone.
Fang
What boring drivel. Yes, attacking community members and allies over nonsense is a problem in the community. More importantly, it’s driven by the contingencies in place by social media companies that reward this kind of behavior through likes and shares. Every time I see this kind of bullshit attack, I’m reminded that social media companies need reformed (cue the decriers of “limitations to free speech” blah, blah). In actuality, the structures that incentivize this kind of responding is the driver of limiting true freedom of expression by shaping users’ responding into this kind of garbage. Social media first widened, then severely narrowed our ability to engage in discourse.
Wolfie
Mr. Reddish:
Ms. Paulson identifies as a “lesbian” not “queer”
Josh447
Agreed. Ms. Paulson is much too sharp and possess too much self esteem to call herself the derogatory term “queer”,
skyboy63
Really ?
DarkZephyr
I do have my pronouns in my twitter bio but this kind of crap makes me almost want to take them out.
fingertrouble
Me too – I have them in mine but that ‘request’ was damned rude. Very forceful in tone, you can’t ‘demand’ anything of anyone, especially around pronouns other than respecting the ones you are using. (I guess the TERFs have proven you cannot even demand that, but anyone being so rude as to ignore people’s wishes are not worth the time of day and are being complete dicks, the sort of people who get your name wrong intentionally for ‘a laugh’ but no-one else finds it funny).
This person, that Golden Grahams idiot and then Aimee Challoner make me despair that an idiotic minority are going to blow it for the entire LGBTQ. There is pushing for our rights and there is being dumb and entitled, and they are all the latter.
And make it harder for those of us who believe in social justice and don’t think SJW is a slur and should never be – sorry the anti-SJW lot support injustice and inequality? Really? I don’t think so in reality….but perfomative wokeness has become such an eyeroll it’s making it hard to get REAL things done.
Cam
Paulson has been an open member of the LGBTQ community at a time when less were, and in an industry where everybody told people to stay closeted. NOW some random attacks her for not doing enough?? Just like they said it wasn’t hard to put pronouns in her bio, it isn’t hard to ask a question politely.
Have several seats.
LumpyPillows
This is how liberals lose elections. The non-binary movement is more about lifestyle and fashion and nothing to so with LGBT people or our real challenges. They are a big negative for us as we try to win LGBT protections at the federal level. 78 genders with associated pronouns? You really think that’s a winner?
Tminus
Exactly …I mean, enough already. We need to disassociate from this ASAP
Cam
Except for over a decade Republican pundits kept talking about how doing anything not middle of the rode is how Democrats would lose elections.
Yet, funny thing, in 2018, when Democrats started embracing more liberal positions there was the largest vote total for Democrats in Congress ever and they took back the House, then pushing liberal items, they took back the Presidency and the Senate also in 2020.
So even though I think the person attacking Paulson is being a douche, trying to use this one small example as a claim that Democrats should go back to trying to be Republican-lite is ridiculous.
pickles
When you have much energy in the world to fight your enemies, I suggest you look further than Sarah Paulson.
I love, protect, support my trans friends. I don’t support focusing this kind of vitriol towards a good person when there are so many doing us/them harm.
inbama
My twitter profile reads “widowed gay male.”
If you can’t figure out what pronoun to use from that, I don’t want to know you.