For transgender teens and teachers, acceptance could be two words away

(Warning potential trigger)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-county-weighs-protections-for-transgender-students-and-teachers/2015/05/06/71b3cb76-f3cd-11e4-84a6-6d7c67c50db0_story.html?wprss=rss_national

By T. Rees Shapiro May 6 at 9:46 PM

For some transgender high school students in the Virginia suburbs, a school board decision Thursday could mean an end to death threats and the beginning of freedom to live openly as who they truly are.

But to some parents, adding two words to a nondiscrimination policy — "gender identity," words intended to protect transgender students in the public schools — could be a reason to remove their children from school because of fears that allowing genders to mix in bathrooms and locker rooms could be a safety threat.

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Interesting read, hopefully school districts around the country will begin applying the new regulations by U.S Dept of Education Titls IX non-discrimination policy across the country, or face losing funding. How many lives could be saved?

I'm appalled that the WP would use the word "She-Male" unapologetically in a story. It gives legitimacy to what many people see as a slur on par with the T-word.

And I was physically nauseous when I read the quote complaining about not being able to pull a student from a class taught by a transgender teacher.

Quote from: suzifrommd on May 07, 2015, 08:34:08 AM
I'm appalled that the WP would use the word "She-Male" unapologetically in a story. It gives legitimacy to what many people see as a slur on par with the T-word.

I reported the article to glaad.org's media watchdog website.

The WP used the term in the context of a quote by Andrea Lafferty, president of the Washington based Traditional Values Coalition, not a progressive sounding organization by name, and while offensive, the WP did not use it editorially, but in the context of the person's quote. The offense, to me, seems to lie with Ms. Lafferty, and not the WP.

But great idea reporting to GLAAD.

As I said in the Subject Line The Muggles don't get it.

Thanks Suzi!

Quote from: suzifrommd on May 07, 2015, 08:34:08 AM
I'm appalled that the WP would use the word "She-Male" unapologetically in a story. It gives legitimacy to what many people see as a slur on par with the T-word.

I think they used it appropriately. It was in scary quotes and was to quote the bigoted Christian family values lady use of it.

I think the more important fact to glean from the story is the potential for withholding Title XI funds from school districts and schools unless they comply with anti-gender identity and LGBT and have inclusionary policies.

Too many transgender teens are being bullied, as they mentioned in the story, even receiving death threats. If the schools can crack down on the bullying, hopefully we'll have fewer suicides and lives tragically lost.

Quote from: marsh monster on May 07, 2015, 09:25:49 AM
I think they used it appropriately. It was in scary quotes and was to quote the bigoted Christian family values lady use of it.

Yes, they did quote it, but I don't think their editorial policies include publishing slurs unedited. Were there a use of the N-word, for example, I'm fairly sure they wouldn't have treated it the way they treated this slur.

Quote from: suzifrommd on May 07, 2015, 09:51:04 AM
Yes, they did quote it, but I don't think their editorial policies include publishing slurs unedited. Were there a use of the N-word, for example, I'm fairly sure they wouldn't have treated it the way they treated this slur.

Probably not, but then that term is well known to be a slur and just a suggestion at what term was used would be enough. But I don't see this as the same thing, its not as well known to be a slur, so if they had not used it as the lady used it, then people wouldn't know.

Quote from: marsh monster on May 07, 2015, 10:09:09 AM
Probably not, but then that term is well known to be a slur and just a suggestion at what term was used would be enough. But I don't see this as the same thing, its not as well known to be a slur, so if they had not used it as the lady used it, then people wouldn't know.

It may not be well known, but it *is* a slur and the Post should have known better. The reason why it is not well known is because we are a marginalized community without much of a voice.

Quote from: suzifrommd on May 07, 2015, 08:34:08 AM
I'm appalled that the WP would use the word "She-Male" unapologetically in a story. It gives legitimacy to what many people see as a slur on par with the T-word.

Quoting someone who used a word isn't an offense on the part of WP.

And what is the "T-word"? (I hope it's not tyrannosaurus. That's a cool word!)

The WP was quoting someone else and has no need to apologise. Let these people from the Traditional Values Coalition speak, their words are the best thing to use against them.

That said can we please steer this back on topic?