Feeling optimistic: it is happening *title edited at OP's request*

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I had lunch today with ex work colleague, he is approaching 50, no children, not someone I know really well, but we meet up every couple of years for a chinwag. He brought up the 'craziness of young people' these days, he looked nervous and I guessed where he was going. It transpired he has had his eyes opened, "that huge cyclist", played a part. The conversation continued and I threw in a few examples of the issues ongoing, the various womens' declarations/pledges, Stonewall's role...It was the first time I've come across a man apart from DH who felt comfortable expressing their GC views face to face in a public place although he trod warily at first until he knew my position. I really believe that this whole debate is coming more mainstream and in so doing, light will be shone on the illogical and dangerous positions that are being taken by public bodies and politicians. I keep trying to have these conversations but I can tell many in my social circle think I'm worrying unnecessarily and can't understand why I am so vocal. Anyway I wanted to share because today for once I feel optimistic that the tide will change.

It completely distorts natural conversation, and creates a sort of power structure. The trans person is in a position of superiority to you, the lowly ordinary borinwoman or man, because they are dictating the language used and trying to force you to comply with THEIR worldview. You're thinking "male" but told you must think "female", when you don't, and that you are being mean and antiquated when you don't.

... but you have to mentally stop and override what you automatically feel like you should say and have been socialized to say all your life each and every time.
It's more than socialiasation, imo: it's in our genes, our instinct, to be able to distinguish between male and female. Knowing the difference is how our species, ALL species, have continued through the millenia. A few years of "right thinking" can't change that.

But anyway, it was for me good to see that ordinary people, when you scratch the surface, do not buy into the ideology. It cannot win. There might be a few very hard years, especially for women, but it cannot last. (Being extra cautious here; policing one's language is always hard!)

^ boring woman or man

I told my DM about M&S - she is now boycotting them and I told her to tell all her friends in the village. She's heard about the furore with Sharon Davies and Martina Navratilova.

At work I show people sports pictures (such as the huge cyclist). My male boss is late fifties, old school and thinks it's all bollocks so we can speak freely and rant in my small dept.
I ranted to my plumber the other day, he knew about the Allways logo removal himself. His wife is pregnant so I said this will be really important if his baby is a girl. I think every man i ever discuss this with thinks it's ridiculous. Not come across one who is on board with it all.

I was watching Jeremy Vine the other morning and they were discussing celebrity get me out of here. A lady on the panel said she had never heard of Caitlin Jenner before, but was really interesting to watch her. I'm convinced she almost slipped up as she sort of stuttered over the word 'her' , I'm sure she was saying 'him' then her brain hastily back pedalled to correct before it came out of her mouth.