Non-Binary Person Changes Their Name to Unicode Character, No One Can Pronounce It

In a bold move to assert their non-binary identity, a local resident has changed their name to a Unicode character that no one seems to be able to pronounce.

The character in question is ⋕ (U+22D5;), a relatively obscure symbol in the Unicode library; ⋕ (U+22D5;) is a mathematical operator meaning equal and parallel to. According to ⋕, the character represents their gender identity in a way that traditional names simply can't.

"When I saw this character, I knew it was perfect for me," ⋕ said in a statement. "It's gender-neutral, it's unique, and it's a symbol that's not commonly used. It just felt right."

However, not everyone is on board with ⋕'s new name. Friends, family, and coworkers alike have all struggled to pronounce the Unicode character, leading to some awkward moments and miscommunications.

"I mean, I'm all for people expressing themselves however they want, but come on," said ⋕'s coworker, Jen. "How are we supposed to refer to them in conversation? 'Hey, you'?"

⋕, for their part, remains undeterred. "I know it's a little unusual, but that's kind of the point," they said. "I want to challenge people's perceptions of what a name can be. And if nothing else, it's a great conversation starter."

Despite the challenges of their new name, ⋕ says they have no plans to change it back to something more conventional. "This is who I am," they said. "And if people can't handle a little bit of Unicode, then that's their problem."

The reaction to ⋕'s new name has been mixed. Some have praised them for their boldness and creativity, while others have criticized them for making things unnecessarily complicated.

"I think it's cool that ⋕ is embracing their identity in such a unique way," said ⋕'s friend, Alex. "It shows that there's no one right way to be non-binary."

However, others have pointed out the potential practical issues with using such a complex symbol as a name.

"Look, I'm all for being respectful of people's identities, but this just seems like a recipe for confusion," said ⋕'s boss, Tom. "I mean, how am I supposed to write this on official documents? And what if someone needs to call them in an emergency?"

Despite these concerns, ⋕ insists that their new name is worth the effort. "I understand that it might take some getting used to, but I really feel like this symbol represents me in a way that no other name could," they said.

In the end, whether or not ⋕'s new name catches on remains to be seen. But for now, they're happy to be challenging people's preconceived notions of what a name can be, one Unicode character at a time.