De-transitioned in Death, How the Media Disrespects Transgender People

[Shana A]

De-transitioned in Death, How the Media Disrespects Transgender People

Posted by Marti Abernathey on Oct 30th, 2010

http://www.transadvocate.com/de-transitioned-in-death-how-the-media-disrespects-transgender-people.htm

I'm tired. Tired of the so called "liberal media" disrespecting our dead.  Hell, even our own "LGB(t) media does it. Ya know, "Today a transgender woman, Jane Doe,  who was formerly known as John Doe, was murdered today."  A few examples:

    "The Essex County Prosecutor's Office reported today that the victim of a fatal shooting in Maplewood on Sunday was Victoria Carmen White, formerly James White. White had legally changed her name to Victoria Carmen following sex reassignment surgery."- Maplewood Patch

snip

But it's not just the mainstream media doing it. Edge, a "Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) news and entertainment portal", posted

[V M]

This is something that has bothered me quite a bit as well... I find it rather rude and unethical to even mention the formally known as name

I feel that it is like disrespecting the wishes of the dead and taking away everything they went through in order to transition... As if someone taking their lives away was not enough

[Alexmakenoise]

This is something that has bothered me quite a bit as well... I find it rather rude and unethical to even mention the formally known as name

I see how this is disrespectful, but what about people who knew only knew the person before they transitioned?  They would probably want to know, and might want to do something to pay their respects.  I always assumed the media mentioned the person's birth name for the sake of informing as many acquaintances as possible of the death, kind of like how when a married woman dies, the obituary usually mentions her maiden name.

[Fencesitter]

I see how this is disrespectful, but what about people who knew only knew the person before they transitioned?  They would probably want to know, and might want to do something to pay their respects.  I always assumed the media mentioned the person's birth name for the sake of informing as many acquaintances as possible of the death, kind of like how when a married woman dies, the obituary usually mentions her maiden name.

That's exactly what I thought. Thanks!

[kyril]

But when other people who've changed their names but not their gender die, the former name isn't typically included. Is it?

[Fencesitter]

But when other people who've changed their names but not their gender die, the former name isn't typically included. Is it?

In death notices, it usually is. Plus, if people die who most people only know by one name, say the artist's name, even if they only use that name in private as well, the birth name also gets mentioned.

[spacial]

What it signifes is the relevance some people put upon the private lives of others.

[transheretic]

I see how this is disrespectful, but what about people who knew only knew the person before they transitioned?  They would probably want to know, and might want to do something to pay their respects.  I always assumed the media mentioned the person's birth name for the sake of informing as many acquaintances as possible of the death, kind of like how when a married woman dies, the obituary usually mentions her maiden name.

Everyone I would want to "pay me respects" damn well knows what my name is.  There is zero justification for this "outing after death" garbage.  It is pandering to the lowest impulses of the public, it is disrespectful of the dead, it is inexcusable.  I WILL haunt the hell out of anyone who does this to me when I pass, they will never again have a peaceful nights sleep.