Murder of Houston Transgender Woman Raises Media Coverage Concerns

January 25, 2010 1:45PM
Michael Cole

http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2010/01/murder-of-houston-transgender-woman-raises-media-coverage-concerns/

This post is from HRC Board of Directors member Meghan Stabler of Houston:

One week ago today the half-naked body of Myra Ical, a 51-year-old transgender woman was found in a vacant lot in the Montrose area of Houston. Initial media reports referred to Myra by her male name and used male pronouns along with placing emphasis that her body was found in an area known for drugs and prostitution. The Houston Chronicle reported that Ruben Dario Ical "also went by the name of Myra Chanel Ical" and that "he had numerous bruises and defensive wounds, as if he had struggled against his attacker." Myra's attacker remains at large and this represents the 7th Houston transgender murder case in the last few years that has still to be resolved.

The brutal attack on her is devastating to the community. Yet much like the 'shot heard around the world,' initial media reporting that was lazy and irresponsible then propagated bad journalism as it was reused across media outlets. The majority of the reports showed the amount of ignorance about transgender issues that is rampant among far too many reporters despite the existence of resources to help them report accurately.

This kind of stuff is always very upsetting for me 

Most of society doesn't understand what people of the TG community go through just to feel at home in their own skin

So many want to rub salt in our wounds, beat, rape and/or kill us, try to use us as prostitutes or just ignore us

How long can we let this disrespectful behavior go on?

I hope you will join me in writing the Houston Chronicle reporter of the story, Dale Lezon, at dale.lezon@chron.com to let him know that this kind of reporting is very offensive.

On the other hand, the original story, http://www.click2houston.com/news/22273886/detail.html uses the correct pronouns and was sell done.  I applaud Channel 2 for their fair and understanding reporting of this tragedy.  They also gave it air time, including inviting the community to come out to the memorial.

On a personal note, I know the area where this took place and no one should hang around there, regardless of their orientation.  We just have to learn safety.  We live in a screwed up world. 

Kristi

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Post Merge: January 26, 2010, 04:34:15 PM

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Update:

See local coverage here:

http://www.click2houston.com/video/22338453/index.html