meaning - many tend to recognize the autonomy and sovereignty of an individual when it comes to expressing their gender/sex fluidity. If they want to identity as bi/gay/trans - we tend to say "it is their right to identify as they choose and identify with whatever resonates w/ them most" < and this is the appropriate, tolerant course of action.

But when it comes to race - it's far more sticky to most. We (we being general society) don't necessarily seem to want to afford that same autonomy and creative space to self-identity - because of a lot of strong personal beliefs and rigid definitions on what "race" means and how it functions in society.

Interestingly, we still hold on to and deem as legitimate the concept of "race" as it was constructed hundreds of years ago. We have challenged conventional norms of "beauty" - and now "gender" - but when it comes to "race" - we are still very rigid and conventional - and that likely has to do with it being arguably the most polarizing facet of american society.

But at the end of the day - if the principle is to tolerate and accept a person's right to self-identify, how is it ever an acceptable course of action to say "no, that's impermissible, we will decide for you who you are" ?

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