I didn't read it that way. Is HN a professional context?
In this casual retelling I read it as a neutral noun describing gender.
Substitute the equivalent here with 'guy' and we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Thinking harder, I guess 'gal' would have been more appropriate. But in any case I feel this reveals more about the reader and their proclivity to engage in 'culture-war topics' than anything substantial.
