Sex is Observed, not Assigned.

We can't believe that needs clarification.

Anyone who knows anything about cults knows they start with reasonable arguments and then slide into the crazy ones once you have decided you agree with them. Check out the legendary episode of “The Simpsons” that lampoons Scientology for a funny crash course on how this works.

We started with “sometimes it’s best to be kind to people with severe dysmorphia” and we’ve ended up with “humans are just like clownfish except they need surgery and hormones.”

Yet, it’s still remarkable that when The New York Times publishes a guest editorial arguing that sex is observed and not assigned it is now considered controversial. We’re glad they did, but we still can’t believe it’s necessary to point out that sex is observed and not assigned and that pretending otherwise has serious medical consequences.

But it’s still a good essay you can share with anyone who tries to argue with you that humans aren’t mammals.