Earlier, when I scanned the website of Vermont College of Fine Arts, I took note of their claim, "3698 alumnx across the US and around the world." The other day, I read an article about my city's new mayor, the first Latino elected to the office, which referred to the city's large "Latinx" population. So what's with all of these sudden "X's" to describe groups in a gender-free manner? I never saw gender specificity in "alumni," so why couldn't we refer to a population that was, say, "Latini" (which would, of course, be the plural of Latinus)? (As everyone knows, one drink made with gin and vermouth is a martinus, two or more are a martini.) Since Spanish is a gender-based language (Latino/Latina), I can understand the Latinx phenomenon, but c'mon . . . alumnx? And why, in the recent Democratic debate, did the LGBT community suddenly become the LGBTQ community? Come to think of it, why not LGBTX? (Of course, it's better than a well-known theatre in Columbus, Ohio, that calls itself "LGBTQQIA.") Obviously, I'm being facetious about the newest PC trend. Yeah, yeah, I know . . . Okay, Boomer.
When the powers of L, G, B, T, Q, I and A combine, they form VOLTRON, defender of the universe!!! But seriously, it's just another way to make PC language a moving target. I'm all for being polite and respectful to others, but it's becoming more and more of a power play. Make a new list every morning of what's no longer acceptable then use the afternoon to find people to harass and terrorize for being half a day behind the times.
And now, the latest: Actors Equity, the theatre union (U.K. version) now wants to ban the use of the phrase "Ladies and Gentlemen" in the English theatre scene - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7644549/Ladies-gentlemen-banned-theatre-actor-union-Equitys-new-gender-neutral-guide.html. Personally, the version I like most is Billy Porter's line as Lola in Kinky Boots the Musical: "Ladies, gentlemen, and those who have yet to decide . . ."
