Complaints about media coverage

[OhThereItIs]

Name changed for this.

I've been really frustrated since the weekend about the mass media framing of the protesters at Pride. Particularly the headline use of the pejorative term "anti-trans" protesters instead of a more accurate term such as “lesbian” protesters, “gay” protesters or “anti-transactivism” protesters.

“Anti-trans” is shorthand for “anti-transgender”, not “anti-transactivism” and would be widely understood by readers as the former, which is not an accurate representation of the protest.

This adjective inaccurately frames homosexuality as hostile to trans people, which has a negative impact on both lesbians and trans people, and serves to undermine what appeared to be a genuine, heart-felt protest on lesbian erasure and the hostility they are receiving for being exclusively homosexual.

If anything, this coverage exacerbates the hostility towards anyone that says they are exclusively same-sex attracted. And I would argue is irresponsible reporting towards the protesters, lesbians in general, and also trans people as tensions escalate.

Is anyone else complaining (or willing to complain) to newspapers and the BBC about their biased and descriminatory coverage?

If they are stating anti-trans as a fact without quotation marks or attributing it to a third party that’s ridiculous... it’s not difficult to put it in quotes and attribute it to the organisation that offered it as an opinion.

I'm getting increasingly disgruntled with all these so-called news outlets. The whole Tra thing is becoming mainstream and unremarkable.

We need direct action. Our lesbian sisters showed us the way. I still feel tempted to march, on my own if necessary. On the other hand, I have a feeling something major will emerge at some point soon, which will present us with an enormous opportunity.

Another angle, as others have been considering, is to push from the trans end until something topples. For example, one could badger organisations like the Labour party for all transwomen shortlists (women wouldn't be eligible). Just thinking out loud here.

What I mean is, somehow force people to engage their brains. I mean how illogical does it need to get before they say "Now wait a minute..."

One needs to be really imaginative, as saying "Lesbians are female homosexuals" didn't stimulate the critical faculties very much it would seem, everyone just immediately rushed to the defence of poor trans.
What would it take? Would anything make them think?

You can thank the profession misogynist Owen Jones for the ‘anti-trans’ epithet. He realised that terf was a misogynistic slur so announced on Twitter he’d be saying ‘anti trans’ from now on to describe women standing up for their rights, and his mindless followers dutifully complied.

Professional!

You need to speak up and be counted if you want to change the narrative

This.

You will get fobbed off but you can complain again and they have to reconsider again.

Any description of anti-trans should be in quotation marks. It must be attributed. It doesn't stop it being defamatory: in fact, it is defamatory. I hope the protestors lodge complaints on this basis. However if not in quoration marks it is being reported as a fact, not an accusation by one side.

For example, if transactivists were described as anti-women, it's fair comment, but there would be an outcry.

So, let's get this straight.

According to a justification of the protest as 'anti-trans' in the media for the reasons above.

Therefore, in the abortion debate it should follow that if a pro-life organisation calls pro-choice protesters 'anti-life', that's exactly how the BBC, Guardian and others should also describe the protesters because 'otherwise they could be described as biased'?

That's wrong, everyone knows it is wrong. The straight fact is they are terrified of the trans lobby. Journalism is an insecure profession and if trans complain it matters and you could be in trouble. If women complain it won't matter and you won't be in trouble.

..........and white supremecists are not anti poc?

They weren't there to raise any awareness of anything pro lesbian whatsoever. It was an anti-transgender attack.

This is clear to everyone by the much wider outpouring of support and solidarity with trans people by the majority of lesbians.

It may be fuddled on here, but it is perfectly clear to everyone else what exactly happened.

They see you.

link to the lesbian protesters' statement & discussion:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3301033-Get-the-L-Out-Statement-by-the-lesbian-protesters-at-Pride-London

They weren't there to raise any awareness of anything pro lesbian whatsoever

So we are to take every trans person at their word but never believe anything a lesbian says. Mkay.

This is clear to everyone by the much wider outpouring of support and solidarity with trans people by the majority of lesbians.
It may be fuddled on here, but it is perfectly clear to everyone else what exactly happened.

Threads in response to the protest at Pride London:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3299646-Lesbians-protest-at-London-Pride-getthelout

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3300768-Lesbians-react-to-London-Pride

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3300986-Stonewall-condemn-transphobia-at-London-Pride

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3300704-misogynistic-bros-part-1-zillion-stephen-fry

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3300978-julia-long-is-a-legend

It's driving me crazy this misframing. I keep shouting at the headlines "They're NOT anti-trans! They may be anti-self ID, anti-being told who they should fancy. They may even be anti the idea that transwomen are women but they are NOT anti-trans".

NO ONE is saying that trans people are wrong to exist or should have human rights taken away from them

The media coverage has been fair. These protesters are most definitely anti-trans. It's obvious so why complain about the accurate reporting?
I was particularly startled when I heard the chant, "A man who calls himself a lesbian is a rapist".

They are not anti-trans, they are pro lesbian. That is defamatory. The fact that you think it's fair coverage indicates there has been extreme bias.

Magdalen Berns RE: "your dating preferences are discriminatory"

Practchet. When I heard this "A man who calls himself a lesbian is a rapist" I immediately lost any sympathy. As the rad fem gender critical stance is trans women are men, my logical and fair interpretation is "A trans woman who calls herself a lesbian is a rapist".
Please if you can bothered, would you like to explain how that slogan is not a defamatory anti trans statement? How is calling a another group rapists in any way pro lesbian?

You're a TRA so you never had any sympathy. Men who call themselves lesbians are behaving like predators. They aren't lesbians, they want to deceive, bully and shame lesbians into sex. Is that predatory behaviour or not? Answer the question.

Pratchet, I am not a trans rights activist. I do not own Twatter or FB accounts and only read the crap spouted on social media when it's pointed out to me. I'm just a normal person quietly trying to avoid being abused in the street or getting my head kicked in. Inferring I do not have sympathy for frightened people however they identify is rather insulting. Anyway, you didn't really answer the question. Is that ridiculous statement I've posted twice slurring trans women as a group acceptable to you?

This is a recent speech by Julia Long who was one of the protesters.

Its an opportunity to listen to her position and the background to the protest.

I note you didn't answer my question. Veeery happy to answer when you have answered.

These people keep coming out as homophobic and misogynist, I suspect because they are not aware that both sex and sexual orientation are protected characteristics under the EA and they are persecuting Lesbians.
I wish someone would print off the page of the EA that lists the protected groups and send it to them. If I were a betting person I would bet thy have been provided with the fraudulent list.

Poula I suggest you check out the case where the person went to prison for pretending to be what they were not. They were convicted of rape.