BBC Reply to complaint about Ben Hunte 'analysis' or article about trans atheletes

[LiterallyProblematic]

Thanks for getting in touch with us regarding an article on the BBC Sport website titled "Trans female athletes must lower testosterone levels, IAAF rules."

I understand you feel our LGBT correspondent Ben Hunte is political biased in favour of transgender issues.

Firstly, I’m sorry about the delay in getting back to you. I know people appreciate a prompt response and unfortunately we’ve taken longer to reply than usual – please accept our apologies.

All staff working for BBC News, though clearly entitled to hold personal opinions and beliefs, are acutely aware that their views should never in any way influence their work for the BBC, nor should they be apparent to our audience. It is important to recognise however that a fundamental part of the role of our correspondents is to offer analysis, using their experience and knowledge, but this is not indicative of bias.

Furthermore, we feel in this instance using the term 'cisgender' is appropriate as it accurately differentiates between the transgender athletes in the article.

Nevertheless, we do value your feedback about the article. All complaints are sent to senior management and in this case the BBC Sport team every morning, and I included your points in our overnight report of audience feedback.

These reports are among the most widely read sources of feedback in the BBC and ensures that your concerns have been seen by the right people quickly.

Thanks once again for getting in touch with us.

Kind regards

This is the article but I'm not sure how to clicky link. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/50049449

Which is why the language we use to describe such people is so important.

Agreed.

Heavens, no - don't go, Cerdiwen! No criticism intended at all. If anything, I was being cynical. Wouldn't it be lovely if we actually were dealing with a sensitive issue, rather than a bunch of sensitive egos.

We learn from each other and we disagree with each other. And both are good.

I'm not going, but I've had a strike after just one day lol, so that's what I meant in terms of not lasting the week. There are a lot of linguistic landmines and I stood on one of them.

I'm having to rephrase things and use euphemisms. I didn't want the other poster to fall into the trap that I did and get banned. I agree that it isn't a sensitive topic, it's really very clear.

Yes, there is another way to describe the difference between transwomen and women that - unlike "cis" which is wholly inaccurate and political - is scientific and easily understood by all readers: male and female.