The Flip Side Of The Coin

Yesterday, I wrote about the great experience I had at the Women’s Day Event at a local campus, the bad news came the next day. I was interviewed by a reporter from the campus newspaper, well he blew it. He got all the pronouns wrong. I email the college LGBT center about the article, they contacted the newspaper and the paper corrected the pronouns.

There are guide books for reporters who are writing about trans-people, the style books address the use of pronouns. The AP 2006 Style Book says…

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.

The New York Times 2005 style book says trans-persons pronouns should…

is an overall term for people whose current identity differs from their sex at birth, whether or not they have changed their biological characteristics. Cite a person's transgender status only when it is pertinent and its pertinence is clear to the reader. Unless a former name is newsworthy or pertinent, use the name and pronouns (he, his, she, her, hers) preferred by the transgender person. If no preference is known, use the pronouns consistent with the way the subject lives publicly.

These guidelines and other LGBT guidelines can be found on the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) web-site.