Read Your AP Stylebook, Rebecca Hall

Since 2001 the AP Stylebook has had this paragraph in it which states how to respectfully report on transgender people.

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.   

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

Seems it's obvious that KTLA-TV reporter Rebecca Hall hasn't read that section of her AP Stylebook.

In a recent news report about an October 1 hate attack on a transperson outside a Hollywood nightclub she referred to a transman as a 'transgender woman'.


News flash for you, Rebecca.   A 'transgender woman'  is a transperson who lives in a female gender role like you do irregardless of the genitalia that may or may not be between their legs.

A 'transgender man' is a transperson who lives in a male gender role irregardless of the genitalia that may or may not be between their legs..   

Far too many times this year we've seen media people across the country screw it up, and the trans community is getting more than a little fed up with being misgendered and disrespected in news reports.  

Since the LA area has many transpeople in it and has for decades, I would suggest you get familiar with these concepts because it won't be the last time you file a news report involving a transperson.

"Stephanie", Read Your AP Stylebook

The latest episode of disrespectful reporting is taking place in Philadelphia in the wake of the death of 31 year old Stacey Blahnik Lee.   She was found strangled to death in the apartment she shared with her boyfriend.in the Point Breeze neighborhood.

Here's the Philadelphia Daily News story written by Stephanie Farr, which has Stacey's old name in it and her name in quotation marks.

"Stephanie", time to hip you to the AP Stylebook section on how to properly report on trans people, since there are many of them in the Philly metro area and you probably will have another situation in which to report on something involving us.

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

That means Stacey's name should not have been placed in quotation marks, since once again, she was obviously living publicly as a woman and your interviews with her neighbors should have established that
.

Read Your AP Stylebook, Fort Bend Herald

Our latest episode of Transphobic Reporter Gone Wild takes place just down the Southwest Freeway from me in Fort Bend County. It's the suburban county that's wedged up between Harris and Wharton County, where the Araguz trial is taking place.

It was also the political home base of one Thomas Dale Delay, so that gives you a clue which way the politics of Fort Bend county lean for the most part except for the easterb half of it bordering the Harris county line.

Now that I've finished with the Texas geography lesson, time to reveal the name of this 'journalist'.

John S. Merculief II wrote a Saturday August 28 piece with the headline 'ABC’s '20/20' to air segment on firefighter who wedded ex-man.

John, I know you people have an AP Stylebook in the office somewhere. Why don't you find it or go to it online and review the section on respectfully reporting on trans people.

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

But then again, I guess asking for respect for trans people in a paper based in conservafool turf is asking a bit much, huh?

Baltimore 'Reporter' Jeff Hager Needs To Read His AP Stylebook

Well, it didn't take long for our latest episode of Reporter Gone Transphobic to manifest itself. Jeff Hager is the latest one that has show blatant ignorance of the AP Stylebook when it comes to reporting on transpeople.

Jeff not only totally disrespected Tamara King in this jacked up report, he also outed Ms. King to her next door neighbor.



And now Jeff, here's the pertinent section of the AP Stylebook you'll need to review that my brothers and sisters in Baltimore are probably reminding you of right now.

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

Such a simple concept, and yet you still can't get it right.

The Transphobic Media Strikes Again...WYFF-TV Flips Gender Script

TransGriot Note: I'm deleting the reference to Rachelle's old male name

Okay people, why do I have to keep repeating this part of the AP Stylebook on how to write about and cover trans people almost like a fracking mantra?

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

WYFF-TV in Greenville, SC got it right when they initially reported the story about the brutal attack of Rachelle Williams by her boyfriend on July 15.

Deputies: Woman Kidnapped, Choked, Beaten

Deputies have made an arrest in a brutal assault in Anderson County.

Anderson County Sheriff’s investigators said at about 4 p.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to an apartment on Continental Street in response to a 911 call that a woman had been assaulted.

Deputies found Rochelle Williams, 34, in a bedroom with head injuries. She was immediately transported to AnMed where she was still being treated Wednesday. Investigators said Williams was choked with a telephone cord and beaten in the head.

Investigators said they identified Demetrius Antonio Hawkins, 21, who lived with Williams, as the suspect.

Just 48 hours later, the headline in the story changes to this:

Family: Transsexual Son Beaten By Partner

Why? Because of this comment by Rachelle's mother which outed her child as trans.

The mother of the victim said, "Why did you do this to my son?"

After the hearing, News 4's Sean Muserallo asked Betty Tomlinson why she referred to her child as her son because investigators said the victim in the case was a woman. Tomlinson explained that her son lives as a woman and goes by Rachelle Williams

Tomlinson said her son is not a post-op transsexual.

Telesia Simpson, Rachelle's sister, said her brother moved into an apartment with Hawkins more than eight months ago. She said she was shocked by the assault and did not know of any friction between the two.

Ms. Tomlinson and Ms. Simpson, if you love and respect Rachelle as you say and looks like you do, please stop referring to her using male pronouns.

I know that's hard, but do it for your child.

I'm pissed about the fact that the minute Rachelle got outed as a transwoman, the incorrect pronouns in the WYFF-TV story come out.

Time for some more 'ejumacation' on another crucial point in interacting with transpeople respectfully.

Transmen are referred to with male pronouns, transwomen with female pronouns irregardless of genital status.

No Joke-NY Media Fails To Read AP Stylebook

You know, how hard is it for media people to grasp this concept?

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

Once again, the media fails in a story involving a transwoman, and this time it happens in our country's so-called media capital.

And it's not like you media peeps don't get enough practice in getting stories on trans people right. Every two days somewhere on the planet a transperson is murdered. Every now and then transpeople make the news for something other than being a murder victim, and you still frack the pronouns up.

Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar was a 29-year old trans woman who was found stabbed to death in her Queens, NY apartment. Her apartment had been ransacked and much of her possessions destroyed. A man she recently began dating is suspected of committing the crime.

And guess how the New York Times and other NY newspapers initially identified Ms. Gonzalez-Andujar? By using her old name and calling her a 'man'.

They've corrected the stories, but it's still infuriating to have to say the same crap over and over about a concept that elementary school kids get.

Kristina, Read Your AP Stylebook

Kristina DeLeon is another reporter that needs to learn the difference between a transman and a transwoman.

I know WOAI-TV should have copies of the AP Stylebook around the station, but let me take a moment to school you on the basics of how to properly report about transpeople.



A transgender man or transman is a person born in a FEMALE body like yours who transitions to male.

A transgender woman or transwoman is a person born male but who transitions to female

Transmen are referred to with male pronouns, transwomen with female pronouns irregardless of genital status.

Such a simple concept, but people constantly screw it up.

Damn, Hometown Media -Read Your Fracking AP Stylebook!

51 year old transwoman Myra Chanel Ical was found dead in the 4300 block of Garrott near Richmond Avenue back on January 10 at 2 PM CST.

But you wouldn't know that based on the way Houston Chronicle reporter Dale Lezon wrote the story.

As per longstanding TransGriot policy, I'm going to do the media's work for them and write the story to conform with AP Stylebook guidelines for reporting on Trans individuals.


****

Police are trying to determine why a transgender woman was killed and left half-naked in a field known to police as a hangout for prostitutes and drug users near the Montrose area.

Myra Chanel Ical, 51, of Houston was found dead in the 4300 block of Garrott about 2 p.m. Jan. 10, police said.

She had numerous bruises and defensive wounds, as if she had struggled against her attacker. She was partially clothed.

Police said that the area where Ical's body was discovered is a well-known spot where homeless people camp and is frequented by prostitutes and drug users.

Investigators said they have no motive and no suspects in the death.

Ical was last seen wearing a black blouse, blue jeans and a black sweater.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

dale.lezon@chron.com


****

Now Dale, was that so fracking hard to do?

On another note, for those of you in H-town there will be a candlelight vigil memorial service January 25 at the spot where Myra was found at 6 PM CST.