Reporters: How to Get it Right on Transgender Issues

This week, I followed the 2010 Equality Ride — a bus of LGBT activists traveling to Christian college campuses across the Bible Belt to start conversations about discrimination — to Waco, Texas. Their target was Baylor University, a school where students can be punished for "the appearance of homosexuality." Gone are the days when you have to be caught in a locker room getting a blow job to be kicked out of school. In 2010, Baylor students were threatened with expulsion for even speaking out in favor of LGBT rights at Equality Ride events.

Monday night, the visit started off at a potluck and panel on transgender issues at the Central Texas Metropolitan Community Church. As five gender queer activists fielded questions, a common theme came up: discontent with the media and how it portrays transgender people.

I couldn't help but corner a few of them after. "Tell me," I said. "What are we doing wrong?" Lord knows we reporters try to know everything ... but we don't. So here's quick 'n dirty media guide to getting it right when covering trans issues.

1. More More More

The biggest problem is that the media often overlooks transgender people altogether. There's not enough coverage. Gays in the Military, Gays in the Workplace, GAY MARRIAGE is all over the news. But even here on Change.org, you'll be hard pressed to find much that tackles the T in LGBT. Of those stories that do come out, very few are about trans men (people born female who identify as male), people of color, and the less than rich 'n famous. "When Sonny and Cher's kid Chaz comes out, it's a celebrity story," Mac Simon told me. "But when are stories ever told about trans people who live down the street?"

2. Get Off the Drag Queen Stereotype

While I love wigs, fishnet stockings, stiletto heels, and hot pink lipstick as much as the next person, this is just one largely superficial (albeit fabulous) aspect of how some trans people express their gender in public.

This is an old stereotype. The obsession with makeup and hussy dresses not only renders F-to-M people invisible, it also fuels this perception that life is one grand performance or deception for trans people. "Even in Trans America," explained Mia Mutch, "and it's like, finally a movie about us, the opening credits show her saying 'I've had this surgery and that surgery' while putting on five pounds of makeup."

Today, there's a world of transgender people who do not have surgery, because they can't afford it or because they simply don't see it as important or worth the health risks. Similarly, not all trans women dress like they're gearing up for a night out with Samantha on Sex in the City.

Being transgender isn't exactly an Abba parade. When reporting, take a moment. What other images reflect the reality of what it means to live as a trans person today?

3. Use the Rights Pronouns

Referring to transgender people with the right pronouns — meaning the gender they identify with — is a huge gesture toward respect. It's a slap-in-the-face to ignore how someone feels, dresses, and presents themselves to the world. It's also a bit inaccurate to call someone who wears dresses and is known to all their friends as Candy as a man. Remember, it's not our job to tell anyone they're not really a man or woman, or they're not doing it right.

Ask people if they go by "he" or "she" then refer to them that way. For those who are truly forward-looking, and believe in a spectrum of gender, there is a third option. In Australia, where recognizing a third gender was recently debated, try the gender neutral "ze."

Also, if you find yourself using the words "transvestite," "transsexual," or "drag queen," there's a good chance you're behind the times. You might want to pull out a dictionary and make sure you're using words correctly, then call up your local LGBT group to find out what's in the lexicon today.

4. Call the Violence What It Is

"Without a doubt, there's a genocide against trans people," said Asher Koleboi, one of the Ride's organizers. "Journalists have a duty to report that accurately and talk about it."

I shot him a look. "It meets every standard of genocide," Koleboi said. So we looked up the definition: targeting members of a specific group, imposing serious bodily harm, attempting to prevent them from having offspring, using rape as a tactic of intimidation.

I saw his point, especially when we got into the gruesome details surrounding some recent murders — disemboweling trans people, severely humiliating them, cutting off their genitals. "You're clearly not just trying to kill someone, but to erase them," Koleboi said.

Hate crimes are common in the trans community. But outside of the trans world, few discuss the violence. Official tallies estimate 15 murders a year, but the number is likely double, possibly triple that. Crimes are un- and under-reported because trans people don't have faith that going to the police will help. Even court lawyers often have a way of spinning the story so it looks like the transgender victim "had it coming." (See the trial of Angie Zapata's murder in Colorado earlier this year.)

This is not an issue for the gay media. When a body turns up, it's news.

5. Educate Yourselves/Challenge Yourselves

One problem hindering journalists is there are next to no stats on transgender people. The 2010 Census (I know because I filled mine out today) only lets people identify as male or female so they're left uncounted. There are plenty of grants for reporting out there; some inspired journalist should apply for one to start collecting statistics and documenting the information about transgender people needed for serious reporting.

Next time you're working on a story that involves transgender people, push yourself. Make sure you understand the difference between sexuality and gender. Picture three different kinds of gender queer people before settling on a main character for your story. The joy of being a reporter is getting to shatter your own stereotypes and see slices of life most people will never witness.

Go for it. And remember, there's no shame in not knowing. Just take the time to get it right.

Photo credit: rikkiarundel