Watch: British Anchor Refuses To Use Non-Binary Pronouns For Guest, Sparks Row

A female news anchor is being severely criticised for refusing to use non-binary pronouns for a guest on live TV. British anchor Julia Hartley-Brewer had invited Indian-origin journalist Shivani Dave for a conversation on CASS Review- an independent review of NHS gender identity services for children and young people on her show TalkTV. However, things became controversial when Brewer introduced Dave with she/her pronouns even though Dave identified as a non-binary trans person with they/them pronouns.

Soon after the introduction, Dave said, “Good afternoon, Julia. You know my pronouns are they/them. How are you doing?” To defend herself, Brewer said that she chose to use "correct grammar". 

Brewer said, "You can choose what you want to call yourself. But you don’t get to require me to use incorrect grammar and factually incorrect things.” She further said that Dave is a female person and not plural. "You’re not a plural. You’re one person, and you’re a female person. So, I will use ‘she’ and ‘her,’ thank you very much," she remarked.

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However, Dave tried to turn the conversation back to the topic of discussion. They said that it is not grammatically wrong to use they/them pronouns to refer to an individual. They further requested the viewers to address them with they/them pronouns in case they want to refer to Dave respectfully. 

Then Brewer retorted asking "Is it disrespectful to use correct, factual grammar?” She further defended herself by saying that she is using the 'correct pronouns' for a 'single woman' appearing on her show. To this, Dave responded and said that they are not a single woman. Rather, Dave said that they are  “very special, non-binary, trans person”. 

The "special" remark was in context to Brewer's statement just before Dave arrived at the show. She said that people “with all these labels” like to be “special". She further said, "Okay. I’m not special. I’m just a boring, old, heterosexual, married woman. But you know, sorry about that. We’re not allowed to do that anymore.” 

Since the video of this interaction went viral, it attracted a lot of likes and comments. People shared their views or rather criticised Brewer's insensitivity. 

One of the Instagram users said, "The way this got me fuming." Another said, "So disgusting. It’s not that hard to use they/them pronouns for one person. We do it all the time if we don’t know the gender of a person.” A third user remarked, “Disgusting! If a person wants to be called they/them that is their right as a person." 

Time to normalise gender fluidity in facts and language

It is indeed disappointing for a news anchor to be insensitive towards gender fluidity. News anchors, in a way, are role models for the viewers. They not only analyse and convey news and social issues but also have the responsibility of being unbiased. And internalising gender binaries is not unbiased. 

We live in an era when identities and gender are fluid. People have the freedom to define themselves. The use of different pronouns is to depict the broken gender binaries. It is wrong to assume a person's gender when you don't know about them. In this case, Brewer apparently was aware of Dave's identity and pronouns and yet she chose to use 'correct grammar'. Grammar and facts are not as linear as people see them. They emerge from a construct and build a glass ceiling.

But today, things have changed. Neither the grammar rules are the same nor are the facts. People are breaking the language which is often biased and phallocentric with no space for gender inclusivity and are creating new facts according to their definition of freedom. Importantly, it is not a choice to 'call' oneself as non-binary. Biological factors are also involved. Is this not a fact?

So let's normalise gender fluidity and stop assuming the genders of people until we interact with them.

Personal views expressed by the author are their own