“This way, sir”

Traveling, at an airport again. This used to be one of the most upsetting locations/situations for me with respect to mis-gendering and gender dysphoria (apart from other issues). But not this morning: in the security line, I was directed by the employee who said to me, “This way, sir”! 

I still do hate the use of “sir” and “ma’am” in general when addressing people — I really do believe the English language should find another way of addressing people, and strangers. 

Overall in life, and especially professionally & in the STEM fields, I do not want to “pass” for a cis-man; in such superficial and general instances such as an airport or more broadly brief interactions with strangers in the service industry and/or in public spaces, though, being addressed as a man, or as “sir”, feels infinitely more comfortable and appropriate to me than being addressed as “ma’am”. 

And I also feel much more confident and safer walking such spaces “as a man”.