I never thought I'd be writing about a Pokemon card tournament where competing in a Pokemon card tournament wasn't the most embarrassing thing. Yet, it's 2023 and here we are. A teenage Pokemon card athlete got DISQUALIFIED for laughing at preferred pronouns. His own preferred pronouns.

Our story takes place in -- *deep breath* -- NORTH CAR-O-LI-NA!

Makani Tran, who plays the Pokémon Trading Card Game at a high competitive level, was asked for his pronouns by a judge. As you can imagine, if you aren't about that pronoun life, having someone ask you that question can be a little off-putting. Kinda in a "wow, you people exist IRL off of the internet" way. Makani, who as it turns out is a he/him, laughed nervously because he couldn't think of the third.

As I just stood there looking stupid trying to think of the third pronoun I felt embarrassed because I was failing to think of a simple word. Due to the nerves and me being embarrassed I let out a little laugh just a normal nervous laugh. My response together ended up being 'Um he or him or uhhhh haha his. That’s it. That’s all I said.

The rub is the judge was a they/them. And Makani's innocent laughter caused they/them to get sand in they/their crack.

The judge looked at me and said “okay just wanted to check to be safe. I go by they/them so don’t be a jerk about it.” They smiled after this and gave no signs whatsoever of being upset or uncomfortable. When they said “don’t be a jerk about it” I thought they were just saying in general like in the future or something.

Nope. Judge They/Them complained. The Head Judge (pronouns unclear) whipped out the rulebook and said Makani violated Pokemon's, quote, "inclusive policy." Makani had made someone feel "unsafe and uncomfortable" and could no longer compete in the competition. He also got yeeted out of the venue. There may have been a frog/frogself there, and tournament organizers wanted to err on the side of caution.

I was disqualified from the event. I was just in disbelief. I remember saying 'Wait what?' I was so confused I had just explained very calmly what had happened and he seemed that he was listening. At this point I’m at the verge of tears but I tried my best to keep my composure,. I just couldn’t understand what was happening.

You made an innocent mistake in front of a bitchy they/them. That's what happened, dude/dudeself. No doubt, a they/them who went to TikTok to cry about how they were misgendered by a he/him, so they got someone disqualified to teach he/him/his a lesson. I'd look for the existence of the video myself. But it's easier just to give @LibsofTikTok a few days.

Sadly, I think Makani is going to learn the wrong lesson. It won't be that people who declare their own pronouns want to control how YOU think and cause problems in the real world. It will be that he has to try harder to be respectful of people who aren't respectful of him. You know, in the name of equity and stuff.

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Brodigan is Grand Poobah of this here website and when he isn't writing words about things enjoys day drinking, pro-wrestling, and country music. You can find him on the Twitter too.

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