Someone changing their gender is not a sexual activity. There was nothing salacious about david927's comment. If anything it is an interesting sociological data point, given the small number of prominent women in math and science.

Sexual reassignment surgery is not a sexual activity, but it is part of someone's medical history, and I think it is in poor taste to gossip about someone's medical history. If Ms. Fridrich had been hospitalized for depression as a teenager, would that also be suitable for discussing on HN?

I agree, but my example was that both sexual activity and changing gender are private activities that don't need to be discussed here.

I completely agree with you, and yet I can't help but admire that he noticed that random detail and followed up on it. So I'm voting you up and leaving him be.

This was more of a missing puzzle piece than a gossip.

For somebody familiar with Czech names and aware of the timeframe (80s), the name does indeed stand out strongly.