When it happens close to home...

[Callmejudith]

Long time lurker on these boards and completely peak trans.

I read this today <a class="break-all" href="http://www.actonw3.com/default.asp?section=community&link=neighbournet.com/server/common/transgenderexposureincident001.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">story

and I am even more outraged, perhaps because this is so close to where I live. WHY is this being reported as a transgender female, WHY are they referring to a man in a wig as she? Who do I complain to?

At least they reported that they were looking for a transgender woman (like it isn't glaringly obvious). Most papers nowadays wouldn't mention the transgender description.

They haven't caught the suspect so I'd love to know how they know he's a transgender female i.e. identifies as a woman. Because he's got long hair? Or wore makeup?

Collidascope - I'd love to know how the victim described him. I bet it wasn't "transgender", so at what point do the police look at photos and decide that's the term to use

Surely it should have been "transgender male", anyway? I think if you commit a crime by making someone look at you touching your penis, I'm guessing you're probably not too dysphoric to handle being accurately described as male. If I were the victim, I would be enraged by this - bad enough to be co-opted into his public wanking fantasy, that much worse to be forced to pretend that the unwanted penis was female. Gaslight, much?

I'm amazed they even mentioned that he was transgender. They often don't. Apparently because they are not allowed to, but this makes that assertion rather inconsistent.

They should be referred to as transgender though. Because then you know you are looking for a man dressed as a woman.

Unless they revert back to being a man to evade capture, of course.