Opinion

Stylebook? What Stylebook?

August 21, 2007

From the AP Stylebook:

“Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics (by hormone therapy, body modification, or surgery) of the opposite sex and 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.”

Now keeping that in mind when you see this image:

Name: Francis Renee White

Headline from WTKR

Suffolk Man Charged With Injecting Silicone Into Transgender Patients Without A License

I’m very aware of the crime that Ms. White committed, but writing the story this way shows either malice or ignorance of transgender people. And it definitely goes against a standard that most journalists follow.

Should I really be surprised though? It IS Virginia based media, after all. The culture there is a hyper conservative (they still celebrate Lee-Jackson Day, for example) . I thought they’d joined the 21 century, but I guess I was wrong.

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In this article:AP stylebook, in the media, media, terminology

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Written By Marti Abernathey

Marti Abernathey is the founder of the Transadvocate and the previous managing editor. Abernathey has worn many different hats, including that of podcaster, activist, and radiologic technologist. She's been a part of various internet radio ventures such as TSR Live!, The T-Party, and The Radical Trannies, TransFM, and Sodium Pentathol Sunday. As an advocate she's previously been involved with the Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Rock Indiana Campaign for Equality, and the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition. She's taken vital roles as a grass roots community organizer in The Indianapolis Tax Day Protest (2003), The Indy Pride HRC Protest (2004), Transgender Day of Remembrance (2004), Indiana's Witch Hunt (2005), and the Rally At The Statehouse (the largest ever GLBT protest in Indiana - 3/2005). In 2008 she was a delegate from Indiana to the Democratic National Convention and a member of Barack Obama's LGBT Steering and Policy Committee.

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