(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Hundreds of contributors are calling out The New York Times for its transphobia in an open letter [1] ['Daily Kos Staff', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-02-15 Letter writers argue the Times has “platformed cisgender (non-transgender) people spreading inaccurate and harmful misinformation” about trans issues, and that it ultimately damages the paper’s credibility. “And it is damaging to all LGBTQ people, especially our youth,” the letter continues. “Who say debates about trans equality negatively impact their mental health, which is a contributing factor to the high suicide rates for LGBTQ youth.” The letter points out that editorial guidelines for the paper require writers to “preserve” a “professional detachment” without bias, yet treat “gender diversity with an eerily familiar mix of pseudoscience and euphemistic, charged language.” The letter also accuses the Times of publishing works that leave out relevant information. Letter writers include a list of demands, including stopping printing anti-trans stories, actually holding meetings and dialogues with trans community leaders, and hiring at least four openly trans writers and editors within the next three months. Letter writers also point out the paper’s less-than-ideal history when it comes to queer issues. Yes: The HIV/AIDS crisis. The letter references “hateful rhetoric” and the rise of the term “patient zero.” “This is the same rhetoric that transphobic policymakers recently reintroduced to the American lawmaking apparatus,” by quoting an article from the Times, the letter argues. And that’s a big part of why this discussion matters so much: Lawmakers actively reference and learn from what’s in the media. As Daily Kos continues to cover, especially in smaller committee meetings and at the state and local levels, many lawmakers are ignorant and uninformed on the nuances of trans health care, for example. They simply don’t know. So sometimes anti-trans “experts” pop up at hearings and testify about their transphobia, but lawmakers don’t actually understand the big picture. Now, that’s no excuse for lawmakers—they should be learning and educating themselves, of course. But it’s safe to say that doesn’t always happen, and when it doesn’t, people might shrug and think, hey, if even the Times is reporting this, it’s probably right. Folks who signed the letter include Roxane Gay, Gabrielle Union, Tommy Dorfman, Judd Apatow, Jazz Jennings, Jonathan Van Ness, Lena Dunham, Margaret Cho, Hannah Gadsby, Jamella Jamil, and many others. x I am proud to be among so many New York Times contributors signing this open letter calling out their egregious coverage of trans issues. The bias has been glaring and it’s dangerous and if we don’t speak up, we are part of the problem. https://t.co/jg1dcRGN6Y — roxane gay (@rgay) February 15, 2023 x Enormously proud to have been one of the writers and organizers working on this open letter decrying the New York Times' coverage of trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people, signed by over 180 NYT contributors & counting. Please read and share: https://t.co/1VIh1Di5Yv — meaning machine (@EricThurm) February 15, 2023 x “The letter’s signatories… point to specific instances in the current legal battles to restrict gender-affirming care for trans youth where the Times’ coverage is used as evidence.” https://t.co/30K8hGRMbV Proud to sign this letter as a Times contributor and @nyguild member. — Melissa Gira Grant (@melissagira) February 15, 2023 x Really, really proud to organize with @FSP_NWU and to sign this letter by members & contributors to the NYT about its pseudoscience & charged language about trans youth and gender-affirming care. Journalism begets policy and that’s very scary right now.https://t.co/1rUeWqOTfN — Abigail Higgins (@abbyhiggins) February 15, 2023 x I have joined over 100 activists, celebs, and organizations calling out the New York Times for its irresponsible coverage of trans issues. I have watched their irresponsible stories appear in hearings to ban the care of trans youth and coverage for trans adults. It must stop. pic.twitter.com/HrbGK4aCzI — Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) February 15, 2023 x I signed. Please consider signing as well. The anti-trans bias of the New York Times is alarming. https://t.co/09tNW5uBGz — Kaitlyn Greenidge (@surlybassey) February 15, 2023 [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/15/2153130/-The-New-York-Times-has-been-bad-on-trans-rights-for-a-while-now-folks-are-calling-the-paper-out Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/