Oh dear, reality disfunction.

"Today, however, five genders seems comparatively modest. The Australian Human Rights Commission acknowledges 23 genders, and Facebook recognizes 58 genders, all of which are also recognized by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, so you have a wide choice."

Most excellent... My chances of getting lucky on a Saturday night have improved beyond my wildest expectations.

As for the pronoun issue suggestions, 'youse' works in all situations and requires no pause for thought in matching singular or plural cases.

"You see I also think I am Margaret Thatcher, and I hope you will applaud my bravery and courage in "coming out". I just happen to be trapped in this small brown Indian body, but I hope you will all treat me with the respect due to the Prime Minister of Great Britain."

I applaud your bravery and courage, even though you seem not to have had to do anything tangible to achieve this status. However, your reincarnation seems to have been complete with the dementia as you can only expect to be treated with the respect due to an ex-Prime Minister... you might want to ask Gordon Brown what that's like or Julia Gillard or for the most recent case, Tony Abbott.

Notice the ABC does not in their recognition of 58 genders seem to recognise the legitimacy of a man having multiple wives?

This is a ramble about nothing substantial.

This is an illogical non-sequitur -
"If Bruce Jenner can be "Caitlyn", why can't that lady be Margaret Thatcher?"

The lack of brainpower exercised in the creation of this article borders on the surreal. The lady quite possibly had the benefit of an education in the past, but if so, steadfastly refuses to put it to good use.

"...is it any more likely that Bruce Jenner is a woman than a reincarnated Napoleon?"

The mere fact that Ms Francis can ask this question, without pause to consider its utter stupidity, sets the scene perfectly. In a single sentence it denies any separation of mental and physical attributes, a concept that most of us take for granted. Let us hope that should the lady (heaven forfend) suffer a brain tumour, she does not, in a fit of solidarity, elect to be treated with psychiatry in lieu of surgery.

>>Hindus believe in reincarnation, so a man who has fathered several children, is just as likely to be a woman<<

This fails the simple logic test of A, therefore B, from every conceivable angle. There is absolutely no connection whatsoever between the statements (A) Hindus believe in reincarnation and (B) a Hindu man is likely to be a woman. Let alone the mysterious, and equally irrelevant, requirement that he fathers several children before turning into Napoleon. (Although, to be fair, having kids does very strange things to the brain after a while...)

To build a speech on such flimsy - no, actually spurious - premises shows a supreme disdain for the conventions of normal communication, which necessarily include a level of honesty with which to present an argument. This piece lacks this ingredient in every sentence.

But at least she was in excellent company when she made the pitch to the Eagle Forum in St Louis Missouri.

http://www.eagleforum.org/

As perfectly-formed a bunch of xenophobic Tea Party fruitloops as you could ever wish to meet. I'm sure they were sublimely happy to hear her message, incoherence and inconsistency patently being their preferred means of communication.

I agree Pericles, it seems the author shoots herself in the foot at regular intervals in this article. What I want to know Babette is why someone like Bruce Jenner wanting to change his name and dress up as a woman is any business of yours?
He/she isn't hurting anyone but himself, with all the abuse and nastiness directed at him by people like you.

As mad as you think all these people must be for daring to 'come out' as someone they feel they have always been, I find many religious people mad for believing they were 'created' by some invisible God in the sky. Mind you, this same God of yours also must have created all the different people you mentioned in your article....maybe he/she had an off day?

Jardine, I believe polygamy and bigamy are illegal in Australia, while all the other forms of relationships or sexual orientations are not.
Simple really....