5 Comments
Apr 15·edited Apr 15Liked by Patrick Lenton

Thanks for this thoughtful analysis. It is, I believe, fundamentally, cisgender society's morbid fascination with our bodies (as exemplified in one of Brianna's killer's comments prior to her murder) that underlies the media attention on deadnaming. It is this 'big reveal' sexualising fantasy of many male journalists that leads to this outing behaviour. And media editors and owners know that 'the big reveal' sells. It always has. And it particularly sells when we look like attractive examples of our affirmed gender. I really think this kind of cis male morbid fantasy ought to be called out for what it is.

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Apr 15Liked by Patrick Lenton

Great piece. I’m in the UK with a 16 year old trans daughter so this case hits hard. Her mother has been incredible. The press as you say seemed keen to promote any reason other than transphobia for the crime. Although I do believe it was highlighted during sentencing. Keep raising the profile of these injustices. Thank you 🙏🏻

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100% and thank you, so so much.

I sometimes wonder if media unnecessarily bristle at the term ‘transphobia’ itself.

In my view, what is happening is the enactment of cisgenderism. A term I suspect the media may like even less but shall we use it anyway? Thank you again for the incredible labour and power of this piece!

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