Stylebook? What Stylebook?

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.

2 Comments

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Autumn Sandeen says:
August 21, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I’ve know I’ve noticed that the television medium doesn’t adhere to the AP Styleguide on transgender people nearly as often the print media does. One would think they would follow the AP Styleguide when they put text articles online — because then the stories essentially become print media — but that rarely seems the case.
Autumn Sandeen says:
August 22, 2007 at 1:01 am
I’ve know I’ve noticed that the television medium doesn’t adhere to the AP Styleguide on transgender people nearly as often the print media does. One would think they would follow the AP Styleguide when they put text articles online — because then the stories essentially become print media — but that rarely seems the case.