The New York Times is the subject of debate around transgender issues. On Wednesday, a group of 200 writers published a letter to the paper stating concerns over the paper’s coverage of trans issues. The next day the paper featured a story about JK Rowling who trans rights activists consider Public Enemy Number One.
The letter by writers takes issue with how the paper has “vilified transness as a disease to be feared.” Gender dysphoria IS in fact considered a mental health disorder so maybe they should take that up with the American Psychological Association. The writers also take issue with the paper’s coverage of medical interventions. They falsely state that “puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries have been standard forms of care for cis and trans people alike for decades.” This is not true and medical standards for these procedures do not exist. Doctors who provide them are quite literally winging it.
The New York Times has not responded to the letter. The piece about Rowling, however, is an opinion piece that says that “nothing Rowling has said qualifies as transphobic. She is not disputing the existence of gender dysphoria. She has never voiced opposition to allowing people to transition under evidence-based therapeutic and medical care. She is not denying transgender people equal pay or housing. There is no evidence that she is putting trans people “in danger,” as has been claimed, nor is she denying their right to exist.”
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m siding with The Times on this one.
