The Impact of The New York Times' Trans Coverage

The Takeaway

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4.6 • 716 Ratings

🗓️ 27 April 2023

⏱️ 16 minutes

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Summary

Thousands of New York Times contributors signed an open letter this February that raised concerns about alleged imbalance and bias in the paper’s coverage of trans people and issues. This month, the co-authors released another letter — this time addressed directly to Times’ publisher A.G. Sulzberger. Contributors continue to criticize both the Times’ coverage of trans people and issues, which they say is biased and harmful, as well as the Times’ response to the letter. Staffers who signed the letter in support have reported being disciplined, and anti-trans activists and lawmakers have continued to cite Times coverage in their justifications for bans on gender-affirming care. We speak again with Harron Walker, freelance journalist and letter co-author, about the state of the Times. Listen to our previous conversation with Walker about the letter here.

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's the takeaway. I'm Melissa Harris-Perry.
0:07.0	Never speak, never speak, never speak, never speak, never speak,
0:11.0	Maryland.
0:14.0	Montana's first trans state representative has been formally silenced. Representative Zoe Zephyr is a Democrat
0:24.6	elected in 2022. And on April 20th, she strongly criticized a bill banning gender affirming care for
0:32.2	minors. And she had some words for supporters of the bill as well. If you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments,
0:40.3	I hope the next time there's an indication,
0:42.3	when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands.
0:46.3	State Republicans initially said Zephyr would be recognized on the floor once again
0:52.3	if she apologized for her comments.
0:54.7	A number of Zephyr's supporters took to the chamber to protest.
1:02.2	But on Wednesday, April 26, state Republicans voted to ban Zephyr from attending or speaking during floor sessions.
1:15.7	She will be allowed only to vote remotely for the rest of the legislative session.
1:20.9	According to the Human Rights Campaign, 17 states have passed legislation banning gender-affir for minors, at least in some form.
1:29.8	And Montana could become the 18th. Also this week in Missouri, the state attorney general
1:35.6	Andrew Bailey was set to enact emergency rules that would put significant barriers on access to health
1:41.8	care for both trans minors and adults. But late yesterday, a Missouri
1:47.0	judge temporarily blocked the action. Still, it's worth noting that in his effort to restrict
1:52.6	gender affirming care, State Attorney General Bailey cited reporting to justify his actions.
1:59.9	Reporting from the New York Times. Bailey is not the first to do so.
2:07.2	In states including Montana, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas, and Arkansas, lawyers, activists, and state officials
2:14.4	have pointed to reporting by the Times to cast doubt on and even punish
	...

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