News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Shana A on November 09, 2008, 12:15:21 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Traditional media still has trouble covering of transgender issues
Post by: Shana A on November 09, 2008, 12:15:21 PM
Post by: Shana A on November 09, 2008, 12:15:21 PM
Traditional media still has trouble covering of transgender issues
Filed by: Alex Blaze
November 9, 2008 1:00 PM
http://www.bilerico.com/2008/11/traditional_media_still_has_trouble_cove.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2008/11/traditional_media_still_has_trouble_cove.php)
I saved this NY Times article in my "to post" list election night after I read the first part of it because I wanted to point people's attention to what seemed to be an interesting article on transgender voting issues. But I just read the whole thing now and it's just plain awful!
It starts with a few paragraphs on the general problems trans people can face on voting day, but then takes a strange turn into a specific case (the Rev. Louis Braxton runs a queer youth home and is trying to help Michelle Carver, a 21-year-old transwoman, vote on election day):
The official asked Mr. Braxton for the zip code of Ms. Carver's residence. Mr. Braxton rattled off a list of zip codes corresponding to Ms. Carver's various places of residence in New York City: The shelter's current address in Astoria, its old address in Astoria, and the address of a shelter in Midtown where Ms. Carver used to stay.
Filed by: Alex Blaze
November 9, 2008 1:00 PM
http://www.bilerico.com/2008/11/traditional_media_still_has_trouble_cove.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2008/11/traditional_media_still_has_trouble_cove.php)
I saved this NY Times article in my "to post" list election night after I read the first part of it because I wanted to point people's attention to what seemed to be an interesting article on transgender voting issues. But I just read the whole thing now and it's just plain awful!
It starts with a few paragraphs on the general problems trans people can face on voting day, but then takes a strange turn into a specific case (the Rev. Louis Braxton runs a queer youth home and is trying to help Michelle Carver, a 21-year-old transwoman, vote on election day):
The official asked Mr. Braxton for the zip code of Ms. Carver's residence. Mr. Braxton rattled off a list of zip codes corresponding to Ms. Carver's various places of residence in New York City: The shelter's current address in Astoria, its old address in Astoria, and the address of a shelter in Midtown where Ms. Carver used to stay.
Title: Re: Traditional media still has trouble covering of transgender issues
Post by: Kaelin on November 09, 2008, 01:53:00 PM
Post by: Kaelin on November 09, 2008, 01:53:00 PM
The modern trend of media is to have the story first, rather than have the story right. It's not really just a TG problem. Any topic a company does not have someone well-versed on is bound to be bungled hardcore.
In their defense, being "quick" is necessary to survive in the business, at least under the current model that companies operate.
In their defense, being "quick" is necessary to survive in the business, at least under the current model that companies operate.
Title: Re: Traditional media still has trouble covering of transgender issues
Post by: sarahb on November 09, 2008, 03:04:03 PM
Post by: sarahb on November 09, 2008, 03:04:03 PM
I agree, it may not be that they chose the wrong person to interview, but that they just chose the first one they could find which happened to not really be a good representation of TS voting problems as she clearly wasn't all that motivated to vote in the first place.
In light of that, my time voting this year (for the first time as myself) went smooth as could be, but the registering was the problem. I registered before the last election in 2004, which was the first election I could vote in, and had registered as <male name>. This time, I figured the easiest thing to do was to just re-register with my new name and just never deal with my old registration so I wouldn't have to out myself. That turned out to be a problem since apparently when entering in the information, the computer brought up my old information since most of the information was the same. They tried verifying using my SSN, which brought up <male name>, then they tried verifying by using my drivers license number, which brought up Sarah. This thoroughly confused them and they didn't know how to refer to me. Since everything was previously in the system as <male name> they ended up contacting me and referring to me as <male name> until I finally broke it down for them and outed myself. Luckily, the woman who was handling my registration was very nice and professional about it just said ok and updated the information to my new name. Now that my information is updated I will always be registered as Sarah and [hopefully] won't have to deal with any more voting problems again.
In light of that, my time voting this year (for the first time as myself) went smooth as could be, but the registering was the problem. I registered before the last election in 2004, which was the first election I could vote in, and had registered as <male name>. This time, I figured the easiest thing to do was to just re-register with my new name and just never deal with my old registration so I wouldn't have to out myself. That turned out to be a problem since apparently when entering in the information, the computer brought up my old information since most of the information was the same. They tried verifying using my SSN, which brought up <male name>, then they tried verifying by using my drivers license number, which brought up Sarah. This thoroughly confused them and they didn't know how to refer to me. Since everything was previously in the system as <male name> they ended up contacting me and referring to me as <male name> until I finally broke it down for them and outed myself. Luckily, the woman who was handling my registration was very nice and professional about it just said ok and updated the information to my new name. Now that my information is updated I will always be registered as Sarah and [hopefully] won't have to deal with any more voting problems again.