新奇事件簿 南非一大学为支持跨性别者走出第一步

A university in South Africa has decided¹ to no longer use titles such as Mr? Ms or Mrs. The University of the Witwatersrand said it will stop using these titles on any form of communication with students. It took this decision to support people who were transgender or gender² non-conforming. A statement from officials read: "The university realizes that it is invalidating and distressing³ for a person who? for example? was...female at birth but identifies as male to be constantly addressed by a non-affirming title." It added that people who were transgender or non-binary are choosing the gender-neutral title "Mx" which is legally recognized in many countries across the world.

南非一所大学已决定不再使用Mr、Ms以及Mrs这样的称呼。南非金山大学表示其将在与学生的任何沟通形式中停止使用这些称呼。该决定是为了支持那些跨性别者和性别不适者。官方声明称：“学校意识到，如果以一种未被认可的名称来称呼一位身份证明为男性的女性的话，这对他而言是一种无视和痛苦。”学校还表示跨性别者或非二元性别者可以选择不分性别的称呼“Mx”，很多国家都在法律上认可这种称呼。

The decision has been widely welcomed by the university community. The university said it, "opposes all public and private discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression". A university official said: "We want people in our university community to feel safe? supported and ultimately respected. As a transgender person myself? it means a lot being in a space which is welcoming." A law professor said the action was, "the most wonderful moment for true equality across a multitude of spectrums". She added: "It's a triumph for an understanding of the diversity of gender identity? sexual orientation⁴ and the right to be respected for whomever you are."

大学群体对该决定表示广泛欢迎。该学校表示其“反对所有针对性别认同和性别表达的公开及私下的歧视。”一名学校领导说道：“我们希望我们校园社区的每个人都有安全感，并受到支持和根本的尊重。我本身就是一名跨性别者，身处这样的环境之中，意义重大。”一名法学教授表示该规定是“大范围内真实平等最重要的时刻。”她还说道：“这是理解性别认同、性取向以及人人享有被尊重权的胜利。”

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

3 distressing   

a.使人痛苦的

参考例句：

• All who saw the distressing scene revolted against it. 所有看到这种悲惨景象的人都对此感到难过。
• It is distressing to see food being wasted like this. 这样浪费粮食令人痛心。

4 orientation   

n.方向，目标；熟悉，适应，情况介绍

参考例句：

• Children need some orientation when they go to school.小孩子上学时需要适应。
• The traveller found his orientation with the aid of a good map.旅行者借助一幅好地图得知自己的方向。