CNN's Don Lemon and failures on trans issues are becoming synonymous these days and it's sadly getting old. My patience is also wearing thin with these repeated fails as well.First up, what the AP Stylebook says about reporting 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.
Don, it's painfully obvious you need Trans 101 education ASAFP and I and a long list of transpeople are willing to break down trans issues to you. But you need to reach out to us as well so you can get up to speed on our issues. .
This is from the transcript of the discussion he had on CNN concerning trans child Bobbi Montoya
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LEMON: OK. All right. Let's move on. This story I want to talk about a lot here because I think it has garnered lots of attention, lots of talk here. Another story for parents, but for much younger kids here. A boy in Colorado wants to be a Girl Scout and was initially turned away. The mother of Bobby Montoya says, her son likes dolls and girls' clothes and wanted to join the girl scouts after seeing his sister in it. So, here's more from Bobby's mother. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FELISHA ARCHULETA, MOTHER OF BOBBY MONTOYA: I said, what's the big deal? She says, it doesn't matter how he looks. He has boy parts, he can't be a Girl Scout. Girl Scouts don't allow that. I don't want to be in trouble by parent or my supervisor.
BOBBY MONTOYA, BOY REJECTED BY BOY SCOUTS: It was like somebody told me I can't like girl stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. So is it damaging for the boy that he was turned away? Is it damaging that his mother allows him to do this?
TARTT: Absolutely.
LEMON: Is it damaging that his mom allows him or is it damaging that he was turned away?
TARTT: First of all, he should not have been allowed interest into the Girl Scouts. It's for girls. It's not for boys that want to be girls.
LEMON: Right.
TARTT: It's damaging for his mom to allow him to express at level at this young an age. Because he doesn't really know who he is. Think about it. He's not going to be accepted by boys and he's not going to be accepted by girls. So there are a number of kids now that grow up and they want to do things that girls do or boys want to do things that girls do. But the problem is, they're not old enough to really say that's who they are and identify that way.
LEMON: You know what's interesting, I just had this conversation in Arkansas -- I did a speaking engagement there. And we talked about this exact thing. I think that little boy wanted to be a princess or something for Halloween. And most of the women in the room said, yes, allow him. And most of the men said, they're too young, until he gets older and he can express himself, you know, maybe when he's in high school or in college, it's fine. But at his certain age, a parent has to be a parent. Why would dad think differently?
TARTT: Well, you know, it's that -- thing. But it's a slippery slope...
LEMON: It's not just -- because there were even gay men in the class who were saying, no, don't let him do it.
TARTT: Right. I mean, because you know how society is going to respond. LEMON: Yes.
TARTT: And that's the thing he's not prepared for. So, OK, he wants to go school. He's already talking about being teased, being bullied, not being accepted. Wait until he's older until he's really sure, this is what I want to be and then we can deal with. Because the kid is going to be what he needs to be. But at this age, he really is setting himself up for a lot of rejection. And that's the part, she can't go to school with him.
LEMON: That was the consensus from most of the guys. Thank you, Doctor Tartt.
TARTT: You're welcome.
LEMON: I appreciate your insight here.
You know, the Girl Scouts of Colorado told our affiliate KUSA that a child who lives life as a girl is welcome to join and is now working to educate the associate who rejected Bobby. But at this point, it is still not clear if the girl scouts are letting Bobby join.
