Also do these women who don't want to disclose their gender really need Randall Munroe to file the bug report for them?
- The population he speaks for is a minority: they aren't yet well represented within the group
- Those who are in the group may feel uncomfortable speaking out about it, particularly because they're a minority
- The issue is important enough to that minority that it may lead them to leave or not join (and so continue to be underrepresented), and the group and the minority are important enough to him that he thinks it's worth addressing.
The "long rant" serves to bring attention to the significance of the issue, as does the fact that someone so well known is taking the time to make it.
That's disingenuous. He's simply acting as a good "beta tester" by filing a report on what he sees as a bug. I don't think he's setting himself up as "representing women", just someone who noticed a problem and has the ability to act on it (which is true of very few people in this case; how many Google+ users have used the feedback option?)
I have, but for more mundane UI issues. Though I suspect that Mr. Munroe has considerable amplification power of his opinions. I have multiple reshares of that post at this point.
He's someone who gets listened to.
I bet the post was read by a lot more people because it was written by Randall Munroe.