There is no doubt words like "gay" have been changed from there original meaning. The word "gay" used to mean "happy". However, although we may not like it, when we hear the word "gay"; most people have no idea of the original meaning of the word.
The English language is a language that has changed over even my own generation, let alone in the past 500 years.
You say that the word "gender" has no meaning in the English language. However that simply is not true, check any English dictionary and you will notice the word "gender" does indeed have meaning and that meaning is determined by the context.
I am 59 years old and until you brought this subject up, I have always understood the word gender to mean male or female.
I would however have a problem with the words "gender neutral".
Bottom line to me is not the language, but the issue itself. I would rather not nitpick things like this.
Tom