Why do they hate science?

Kevin D. Williamson at NRO writes:

Bradley Manning Is Not a Woman

Pronouns and delusions do not trump biology.

Dennis Avner was not a tiger, and Bradley Manning is not a woman. Mr. Manning, who upon his sentencing for his role in the WikiLeaks case announced that he desires to live out his days as a woman called Chelsea, is what he is, and no amount of pronoun play, psychotherapeutic doublespeak, or wishful thinking can make it otherwise…

We have created a rhetoric of “gender identity” that is disconnected from biological sexual fact, and we have done so largely in the service of enabling the sexual mutilation of physically healthy men and women (significantly more men) by medical authorities who should be barred by professional convention if not by conscience from the removal of healthy organs (and limbs, more on that later), an act that by any reasonable standard ought to be considered mutilation rather than therapy. This is not to discount the feelings of people who suffer from gender-identity disorders — to the contrary, those feelings must be taken into account in determining courses of treatment for people who have severe personality disorders. But those subjective experiences do not render inconsequential the biological facts: A man who believes he is a woman trapped in a man’s body, no matter the intensity of his feeling, is no such thing.

You should read the whole thing.

Reaction from gender deniers was swift and stupid:

Possibly the most offensive, disgusting response to Chelsea Manning: "Bradley Manning Is Not a Woman" http://t.co/VYoINCV3fL #transphobia — Jessica Roy (@jessica_roy) August 23, 2013

FUCKING PIECE OF IGNORANT SHIT THIS GUY http://t.co/6EGuttb3SQ — Renée Z. (@aregeezee) August 23, 2013

Screwing up pronouns is one thing, but @KevinNR literally thinks trans people are mentally ill and should be "treated." — Harry Cheadle (@HCheadle) August 23, 2013

@KevinNR dude…. i liked the Ike piece but come on, the Manning piece is just unnecessary and mean. And what's it to you anyway?? — Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) August 23, 2013

This is vile. Author might not understand gender identity issues, but they are real #Manning http://t.co/5KgHjlidI0 — Matt Lopas (@mattlopas) August 23, 2013

If gender-sex correspondence is 100% biological, why does @KevinNR need to police individuals who dissent? http://t.co/MUIlDlL8BJ — J.K. Trotter (@jktrotter) August 23, 2013

Etc. Silly gender deniers.

I think Williamson will be okay, though:

All praises to whichever editor put the "Delusions of Gender" headline on my piece today. I was going to go with "Unmanning Bradley." — Kevin D. Williamson (@KevinNR) August 23, 2013

In other news, I am now a beautiful unicorn named Princess Sparkleheart, and you will all address me as such. I’ll thank you not to mock my brave choice to reveal my true self. Respect my species identity, you bigots!

P.S.

But see, if *I* had said Bradley Manning should have his balls cut off… — Jim Treacher (@jtLOL) August 23, 2013