What even is "transgender ideology"?

It's been quite a week for trans people and the news, as we process the fallout from the murder of Charlie Kirk, conservative influencer.

I wrote about the fear:

Violence is not the answer

This is why we’re scared today and what you can do

Amplify RespectRey Katz

I can't be the only person wincing ever time I see another article with the phrase "transgender and antifacist ideology."

To be clear, the ammunition used to kill Charlie Kirk had engravings of internet memes, but the allegations that these engravings represent "transgender ideology" is false.

The problem when news outlets publish misinformation is it legitimizes the incorrect info. Other publishers cite the news articles as a source.

These are scary accusations towards trans people. Most of us are not violent, not murderers, and opposed to gun violence.

The next tactic to blame this murder on trans people has been to share that the shooter was in a romantic relationship with a person, his roommate, who is "transitioning from male to female" and has been fully cooperative with the investigation. This doesn't change the fact that the shooter is not trans, and dating a trans person is not a justification for violence.

I've never heard a trans person talk about violence as "transgender ideology". Trans people don't talk this way. We are just trying to live our lives, access healthcare, support our friends and family, you know, like everyone else.

And then, we find out that the FBI is allegedly "discussing treating trans subjects as a subset of its new threat category, 'Nihilistic Violent Extremists'" as reported by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein.

As a trans journalist myself, I feel another anxiety attack coming on. (And that's not really an "attack"! Just anxiety!! 😉)

I can't emphasize enough how nonviolent all the trans people I know are.

Phew. So who can we blame for publishing this misinformation implying trans people are violent?

Research conducted by the Trans Journalists Association shows that 42 outlets published misinformation.

The Wall Street Journal was apparently the first to break the story, with their original headline: "Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved With Transgender, Antifacist Ideology: Sources"

(Again, the ammunition was not actually engraved with transgender ideology)

The WSJ issued a correction and updated their headline to: "Early Bulletin Said Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved With Transgender, Antifascist Ideology; Some Sources Urge Caution"

Here's the WSJ editor's note:

"Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article detailed how an internal law enforcement bulletin said that ammunition recovered following the Charlie Kirk shooting was engraved with expressions of “transgender and anti-fascist ideology." Justice Department officials later urged caution about the bulletin by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, saying it may not accurately reflect the messages on the ammunition, and the article was updated Thursday to reflect that. This editor's note was appended on Friday, Sept. 12, after Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the engravings included one that said “Hey fascist!” along with other messages and symbols. He gave no indication that the ammunition included any transgender references."

Many other outlets did not correct their content.

Here are the outlets found by the Trans Journalists Association to have published misinformation about the engraved ammunition:

Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, RawStory, Daily Beast, LADbible, Newsmax, New York Post, The Times, The Independent, Radar Online, The New York Sun, The Atlantic (again), TMZ, National News Desk, The Telegraph, CNN (The Lead with Jake Tapper), Highland County Press, GB News, Al Jazeera, Washingtonian, GO Magazine, WJBC, Daily Caller, OK!, Daily Mail, The Federalist, Daily Wire, Washington Free Beacon, Daily Express, Daily Star, Daily Mirror, The Sun, Hindustan Times, Economic Times, WION, Times of India, The Daily Guardian, Mint, Indian Express, i24 News, Jerusalem Post, Poland Daily 24, NHK World

We have so much room for improvement.

To avoid embarrassing and hurtful mistakes like this, newsrooms should consult with trans people - not because of a bias, but because of their lived experience. Trans people are in the best position to know true facts about trans people. And of course, facts from any source should be thoroughly checked before printing.

For more about how to write about trans people with respect, check out my reported guide featuring 8 experts:

Trans people are experts in our own experience

Writing about trans people with respect

Amplify RespectRey Katz

Publishing misinformation without fact-checking is one way newsrooms can hurt our trans community. Omitting or refusing to cite or feature the work of trans people and allies is another way.

Rebecca Minor shared this week that their new book, Raising Trans Kids: What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting This, sold enough copies to make the New York Times bestseller list but the book didn't appear on the list. The NYT bestseller list is a huge deal for authors and publishers. Selection from the list is based on a proprietary editorial process, not merely numbers of books sold. Assuming Minor is accurately tracking and reporting book sales, it seems clear that the editorial team at the NYT chose not to feature her book, which I find infuriating.

It's almost as if the media is scared of anything that might show many trans people are helpful, caring, good parents, reasonable children, or providing expert recommendations.

Read more about Rebecca Minor's book and lack of inclusion on the NYT bestseller list:

While Politicians and Media Frame Trans People as a Threat, I Wrote a Book to Keep Them Alive — Rebecca Minor | Gender Specialist

While politicians and media spread fear, Raising Trans Kids amplifies truth and compassion — equipping families to stand strong with their trans children.

Rebecca Minor | Gender SpecialistHello There

It's not fair. Trans people and allies are doing our best work only to be unrecognized and vilified by mainstream media.

The Onion satirically shared in 2023, "We remain dedicated to finding the angles that best frame the basic rights of the gender-nonconforming as up for debate, and we will use these same angles over and over again in hopes that this repetition makes them suffer. As journalists, it is our obligation to entertain any and all pseudoscience that gives bigotry an intellectual veneer. We must be diligent in laundering our vitriol through the posture of journalistic inquiry, and we must be allowed to fixate on the genitals."

It Is Journalism’s Sacred Duty To Endanger The Lives Of As Many Trans People As Possible

The task of reporting is not a simple one. Each and every day, reporters and editors at publications like The Onion make difficult decisions about which issues should receive attention, knowing that our coverage will influence not only how people think, but also how they act. This responsibility is at the core of an ongoing debate over whether news coverage of transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people is unduly biased. As the world’s leading news publication with a daily readership of 4.3 trillion, The Onion is compelled to weigh in.

The OnionThe Onion Staff

It sure feels like the satire is more real than the actual news these days.

Let's take a deep breath together. Okay.

We will get through this.

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