Elon Musk sparks online debate, labels term "cis" as "heterophobic"
Elon Musk is famed for his innovative ideas and contentious views. The billionaire is not one to shy away from stirring up debates in the online world with his casually put forth-statements. This time, Musk touched upon the term "cis", a word that has found disfavor with the unconventional entrepreneur.
3:58 PM EST, January 11, 2024
Elon Musk makes a stand against "cis"
In one of his latest posts, Elon Musk stated: "Cis is a heterophobic word. Shame on anyone who uses it". The term cis refers to individuals whose biological sex assigned at birth coincides with their gender identities. This term brings a linguistic distinction between cisgender and transgender individuals.
The term heterophobia is often used in a satirical sense in popular culture, presenting a contrast to homophobia. It refers to the discrimination against heterosexual relationships, or relationships between men and women.
The public aligns with Musk's view
Elon Musk's post garnered approval from many online users. One commentator stated: "The term 'cis' (cissexual, cisgender) was created to normalize deviations from the norm by labeling those who don't exhibit them. This isn't my opinion, but is a clearly stated objective in the field of sexology." Another user added: "This is a term that pathologizes normalcy. It's a reversal of reality."
However, some voices contradicted Musk's viewpoint in the comment section. A user stated: "Cis (gender) describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. It stands in contrast to trans (sex). This term has no connection with sexual orientation and, therefore, cannot be 'heterophobic' or homophobic. I suggest using Google to understand these terms."
