TMZ.com Read Your Fracking AP Stylebook

Once again it's time for me to put another clueless media outlet on blast and refer them to the section of the AP Stylebook that gives you a vowel and a clue as to how to report on transpeople.

Today's transphobic media offender is TMZ.com and the author of this piece let their inner transphobe loose in an attempt to be funny with this Lohan probation revocation story but it fell flat.

Okay first, let's peruse what the AP Stylebook says in its section on transpeople and how to respectfully report on us.  Take notes TMZ.com, you may need them for future reference. 

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.

(TransGriot cracking knuckles)  As for you TMZ.com, I used to have much respect for the fact that you broke before any mainstream network the news that Michael Jackson had died, but it's obvious your reporting standards have slipped below tabloid level since then.

For starters, unless a person has declared they are a transsexual, you should not be reporting that Lindsay Lohan is one, and especially with that tired azzed Austin Powers movie line without confirmation from that person. 

Second point is that the 'M' in the gender code field in those booking documents could be a typo. 

That possibility needs to be considered due to the fact that Lohan has a feminine presentation as evidenced by her lengthy time in the Hollywood spotlight and in terms of the various productions she has acted in. .

But if Lindsay Lohan is indeed a transwoman, it is insulting and  disrespectful to refer to her as 'she/he' or presume she has male genitalia as you did in the TMZ.com article.

Unless you talked to the arresting officer who did the patdown search when she was booked, only that person, Lindsay's doctors, parents and Lindsay herself can confirm what genitalia is concealed by her panties.

So yes, TMZ.com, go download or buy a copy of this year's AP Stylebook and keep it handy for the next time you attempt to do a  report on a transperson.

And before you make that kind of conclusion jump, I suggest you ask the person in question if they are trans before you blast it to the world that they are.

Problematic WAPO Wanda Alston House Story

Had a friend point me to a link to a Washington Post story about the Wanda Alston House, a transitional Northeast DC residence for homeless TBLG youth.

While the story about the home was mostly well done, there was a problematic photo posted of one of residents of the center, Sarah Feliciano. 

While reviewing the commentary for it I discovered another problematic point.   If she tells you Sarah is her legal name, it wasn't necessary to reveal what her old male name while doing this piece in the first place. .

Then it's followed up by showing a picture of Sarah shaving?

Okay, we already know Sarah's in the early stages of her transition and until the hormones start morphing her body and she gets electrolysis done, she'll be dealing with that until it's gone.      

But there were other pictures that could have been chosen for that instead of the shaving photo.