Understanding transgenderism.

[Anomalocaris]

I would agree with that, but, of course, there are conservatives (including, some academics) who would say that being transgender is a choice, kind of like choosing Domino's over Pizza Hut.

...and to that I would say, I think they're probably wrong but so what if they aren't?  Treating someone as they wish to be treated costs nothing.  As another poster paraphrased Jefferson - whom conservatives are fond of quoting - it neither breaks their leg nor picks their pocket.

Treating someone as they wish to be treated almost certainly does not cost nothing, if second, third, forth order effects are all considered.   There is an element of shirking of thoughtful responsibility in saying if it doesn’t take a penny out of my pocket now then I shouldn’t care.    You may say the cost is not worth treating them differently than they wish to be treated, but you must first have some idea what those cost might be.

Too much of our discourse has devolved down to trying to get people to look at any problem mono-dimensionally, only down the depth where the desired conclusion seems evident, and dissuading people from looking deeper lest any problems be revealed with the desired conclusion.