This is so pathetic and annoying. Just fucking call, it's not hard, stop babying adults. Not all millennials and Gen Z live in constant fear and helplessness.
Context is important. In your case, you're using female to designate a biological characteristic - aka, a reproductive ability that the cult is specifically exploiting. Some men, especially online, use "female" in a way where normally someone would use the term "woman", in an attempt to dehumanize women. It's unfortunate that the person you were talking to couldn't tell the difference, but as for never forgiving them, maybe a gentle correction could be more warranted?
Yeah, that would be weird. Except physical illnesses and mental illnesses are not exactly the same.