Deleting a record in some databases uses a process of marking the record with a “tombstone”, processes can be killed. Abandoning a former name that doesn’t align with a gender identity? Yeah, it’s dead to me.
Oh I get the logic all right, but I imagine the transition is a pretty sensitive topic that can be difficult for some family members or acquaintances. And this kind of vocabulary (death-related) in this context sounds like an odd choice.
But that's just a thought, I have no idea how it feels to transition and what kind of emotions are involved. Maybe it's more definitive that way, acting like the former identity does not "live" anymore.
