Huffington Post and the word Tr*nny
from http://www.transphobia.org/2012/04/13/huffington-post-and-the-word-trnny/
The Huffington Post seems to actually not understand that the word T*anny is offensive. Just like the word F*ggot is offensive to homosexuals.
Mara Keisling, who is a Huffington Post blogger and the Founding Executive Director for the National Center for Transgender Equality, wrote an article about the word and that using it, IS offensive.
Most people in America now know how it hurts for a white person to use the n-word. But now we have lots of words that some group or another has told us we shouldn’t use: “lame,” “illegal” “immigrant,” “retarded,” “faggot,” “dyke,” “tranny.” Some people complain that we have too many such words and that it’s “political correctness run amok.” Some people use these proscribed words as merit badges, emblematic of independence or rebellion.
This article was Posted: 03/ 6/2012 9:17 am.
Just days later we see the following headline.
Urban Outfitters ‘Tranny’ Greeting Card Slammed As Transphobic
Posted: 03/19/2012 3:16 pm Updated: 03/19/2012 3:21 pm
The use of the word Tr*nny in this headline was absolutely unnecessary. This word is used to provide a shock value so that people will read the article. It would be just as effective using a headline such as “Urban Outfitters Transphobic Greeting Card”. Or, just replacing Tranny with Tr*nny would be an acknowledgement, by the author, that this word is offensive.
HuffPost Gay Voices [not trans voices] has reached out to Urban Outfitters’ Media Relations department for comment, and is awaiting reply at the time of this writing.
Thanks for reaching out to them but seriously? You are going to use an offensive and transphobic headline and then claim you are going to contact them about THEIR transphobia?
Then Ellie Krupnick published a story with the headline BryanBoy: I’m ‘Pro-Tranny’ But Don’t Want Them In Miss Universe. Posted: 04/11/2012 6:14 pm Updated: 04/11/2012 6:14 pm
Also less than pleasing might be the use of the word “tranny.” Anyone who watches “Project Runway” knows it gets tossed around the fashion world every now and then, but the term is seen as derogatory by many in and outside the LGBT community.
BryanBoy’s comment has not caused mass outrage or condemnation, but it certainly caught our eye. Do you find it offensive?
YES! HuffPO! It IS offensive! It should not be used in a headline of a story. Then the gall of the author to ask people if they think it is offensive. Trans people are totally outnumbered here and what offends us should never be put to a vote. IT IS OFFENSIVE…IT IS OFFENSIVE..IT IS OFFENSIVE.
Stop using such dehumanizing words to describe us.
