Welcome to the new world of state-enforced personal freedom, where individuals are so free, you can get fined or jailed for thinking what you’re not supposed to think about their freedom!

Individuals in New York City are free to choose their gender. They’re so free, if you’re an employer or landlord there, you have to see them the way they tell you to see them. Otherwise the city can slap you with a huge fine. California is considering legislation along similar lines. In Canada, where discrimination on the basis of gender choice has now been criminalized, one Canadian leader proudly tweeted, “All Canadians should feel #FreeToBeMe” now.

Proud that Bill C-16 has passed in the Senate. All Canadians should feel #FreeToBeMe https://t.co/6vbYYtvGqT pic.twitter.com/pnYIAEBff9

— Min. Wilson-Raybould (@MinJusticeEn) June 15, 2017

Transgender persons are so free, the state will drop a hammer on anyone who doesn’t go along with their gender choices. The absolute autonomy of the self is being enforced by the absolute authority of the state.

Which is very strange. Think about it a moment. The contradiction is so obvious, you could probably write the rest of this article along with me. But allow me to continue anyway.

A Desire for Absolute Personal Freedom

True gender dysphoria is a painful and distressing condition, and it’s not freedom in any sense of the word. It’s also very rare, though, occurring at a rate of about 1.5 to 4 persons out of every 10,000. A population that small couldn’t explain what’s driving today’s gender revolution. There have to be other forces behind it. Above all, I’m convinced the one chief impetus behind laws like these is the desire for absolute personal freedom, especially sexual freedom.

And is there any freedom to match the freedom to change your sex? Think of a whole bunch of building managers who’ve been responsible for keeping their properties in great condition. Now imagine the corporation telling them, “Hey, we’ve been restricting you too much. We’re going to loosen things up for you now.”

At this point the managers might be thinking they’re going to be getting more flexible hours, more authority to add staff, or something like that. But the corporate boss goes on:

Don’t set your sights too low, now. I’m setting you completely free! You can do whatever you like here. You can even tear the place down and put up something else. Cost isn’t much of an issue. We’ll find a way to help you manage that. And by the way, if no one wants it but you, go ahead and do it anyway! You’re in total control. The only one who has to agree with what you’re doing is you.

Now, that’s real freedom. Imagine how the landscape would change.

It’s also a picture of the new freedom individuals have been given to remake their bodies and identities. They can do what they wish. No one else has to agree with it. That’s real freedom, too.

“State-Enforced Freedom”

The state feeds on power, not individual freedoms. It loves using its muscle.

But I’m sure you’ve already noticed what I’ve gotten wrong: the line, “No one else has to agree with it.” Under these new laws, everyone has to agree — or pay a fine, or even go to jail. One person’s freedom is everyone else’s legal bondage.

Thus we have New York City, Canada and potentially other jurisdictions sidling up alongside individuals’ autonomy, and assuring them, “We’re going to enforce this with all the power we can muster.”

Here’s What’s Really Crazy

But the state feeds on power, not individual freedoms. It loves using its muscle. So here’s the obvious point you’ve been waiting for all along: Criminalizing speech doesn’t magically make the world #FreeToBeMe. It’s nonsense. State-enforced freedom is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms.

Some people call gender dysphoria “crazy.” I wouldn’t use that word myself; it’s a rude and insensitive way to speak of people suffering a genuine psychological disorder. But I’ll tell you what really is crazy. It’s thinking we can enlist the absolute authority of the state to enforce the absolute autonomy of the self. Not a chance. It’s crazy even to think it.

Tom Gilson is a senior editor with The Stream and the author of Critical Conversations: A Christian Parents’ Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens (Kregel Publications, 2016). Follow him on Twitter: @TomGilsonAuthor.