"Cisgender" Is No More A Slur Than "Straight" Is - Elon Musk Restricts Term On Twitter

Elon Musk declared that "cis" is a slur on twitter. The word is no more a slur than "straight" or "heterosexual," and it has over a hundred years of use to describe gender identity or presentation.

Yesterday, in a stunning development, Elon Musk announced that Twitter would begin to consider the term “cis” or “cisgender” as a slur. The word, which is important in conversations that center on gender identity, is extensively employed by transgender people, as well as by medical professionals, researchers, service providers, and advocates, to differentiate between transgender and cisgender individuals and their distinct needs.

The term “cis” or “cisgender” is an adjective that describes someone who identifies their gender as the same as their birth sex. The term “trans” or “transgender” is, likewise, an adjective describing a person who identifies with a gender that is not their birth sex. Cisgender women, for instance, are those who were assigned female at birth and continue to identify that way. Transgender women, on the other hand, are women who were assigned male at birth and who now have female gender identities.

While “cisgender” might be somewhat new to certain individuals who do not normally discuss gender identity and issues around it, the term boasts a rich history that dates back over a century in discussions surrounding gender expression and identity. The prefix “cis-” has been employed in chemistry since the early 19th century to indicate that functional groups are on the same side of a molecule. It has also been used thousands of years earlier by ancient Romans to mean, “on the same side” or “this side.”

See Gaius Julius Caesar’s use of the term “Cisalpine Gallia,” a region of Gaul that was referred to as “on this side/on the same side” of the Alps.

Commentarii de Bello Gallico Lieber IV, by Gaius Julius Caesar, 49BC

The label “cis” is not pejorative or a slur; it serves as a descriptor much like the terms “straight” or “heterosexual.” Both of these terms have also been attacked by conservatives prior to being normalized today, and both continue to face attacks from time to time. The far right reaction to the word “cis” is similar in many was, and stems from a group of people uncomfortable with their gender or sexual orientation being categorized as part of a broader spectrum that encompasses those different from themselves.

These words have utility. When writing medical literature, for instance, doctors may need to differentiate between transgender men and cisgender men receive treatments. Psychologists researching and writing about gender identity often need to be clear when they are describing one group or another. For transgender people, it can be helpful when talking about safe spaces and community resources. Here are some examples of how “cisgender” can be used by these populations as an important descriptor:

• “That endocrinologist only caters to cisgender patients, you may need to go to another one.”

• “Only cisgender men are allowed to be a part of that fraternity, unfortunately.”

• “Both cisgender and transgender women need to be screened for breast cancer.”

• “Cisgender people do not know what it’s like to grow up having to hide their gender identity.”

• “I’m cisgender, but my partner is trans and I care a lot about these issues.”

• “Cisgender girls will be affected by anti-trans laws that allow people to challenge their gender identities, forcing them to undergo invasive medical exams.”

Notably, Elon Musk's recent proclamation that Twitter would categorize “cisgender” as a slur isn’t the first instance of animosity towards the term. Several figures known for their anti-trans stances, such as Matt Walsh, Graham Linehan, and William Shatner, have previously expressed contempt for term. Walsh claimed it to be a creation of the “gay left” to normalize gender diversity, while Linehan deemed it a slur and Shatner felt “debased” by it. The National Review, a right-wing media outlet, has also weighed in, suggesting in 2014 that the term was created to avoid offending the trans community. By aligning twitter policy with these viewpoints, Musk's is making twitter even more hostile for transgender people.

Like many attacks on the transgender community, the far-right borrows from earlier attacks on gay people. Several religious organizations and conservative voices have also expressed contempt for the word “straight.” Ari Drennen from Media Matters compiled a few screenshots showing conservatives upset over the word:

Truth Source, Christian ministry website

Josh Denny, libertarian comedian

When Elon Musk assumed the helm at Twitter, many accounts praised him for being a “free speech absolutist.” However, as events unfold, it is becoming glaringly evident that Musk is endorsing policies that squelch the speech of transgender people who use terms like “cisgender,” which are essential in explaining lived experiences and unique circumstances to differing gender identities. Concurrently, Twitter has become a hostile place for transgender users as an army of internet trolls inundate the platform with actual slurs aimed at minority groups while facing scant moderation.

As for myself, I remain resolute in my commitment to continuing to use the terms “cis” and “cisgender” on Twitter. If this results in my banning from the platform, so be it. Regardless of Musk’s proclaimed Twitter policies, “cisgender” retains its significance and utility, and I have no intention of giving in to an anti-trans billionaire’s whims on this issue.