Here's a phone call I got one day. I think it pretty well illustrates the subtle every-day struggles that trans and non-binary people face.
Me: "Hello?"
Phone: "Hello, this is the Washington State Health Department calling on behalf of the CDC. You have been picked randomly to participate in a survey about your personal health and your insurance satisfaction. Do you wish to participate?"
Me: "Sure, go for it, ma'am."
Phone: "You may cancel at any time, and you have the right to not answer any questions that make you feel uncomfortable. How many people are in your household?"
Me: "Two."
Phone: "And how many of them are men?"
Me: "I guess... None of them."
Phone: "Okay, then both of them are women?"
Me: "Oh, no. Only one of them is a woman."
Phone: "Then the other one is a man?"
Me: "No, the other one is non-binary."
Phone: "... Is this person identified as a man?"
Me: "No, they are non-binary. Neither male nor female."
Phone: "... Let me go check and see how I'm going to put that in..."
Me: "Sure."
[2 minutes later]
Phone: "Alright, let's do this again. How many men are in your household?"
Me: "Zero."
Phone: "And how many women?"
Me: "One."
Phone: "..."
Me: "..."
Phone: "... I'll be right back."
[3 minutes later]
Phone: "Okay, sir, I need to verify--"
Me: "Ma'am. I'm transgender, please call me ma'am.
Phone: "You identify as female, correct?"
Me: "Yes, I am female."
Phone: "And the other household member is...?"
Me: "Non-binary."
Phone: "..."
Me: "And they use neutral they/them pronouns."
Phone: "Sir, I can't..."
Me: "Ma'am."
Phone: "Sorry, ma'am, there's no third option for me to add that option."
Me: "Thank you. And it sounds like you need to add one then! Because non-binary people exist. I live with one."
Phone: "... I'll be right back."
[7 minutes later]
Phone: *partially inaudible* Hello?
Me: "Hello?"
Phone: *signal cutting out* "This...it...thank..."
Me: "Hold on, I can't hear you."
Phone: *cutting out* "Thank you for ... Call, sir. Goodbye."
Me: "Oh... Okay. Goodbye. Sir."
[Hang up]
They actually pretended their signal was cutting out and ended the call. Just like what I usually do to them! Touché...
