resources
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language guide
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Accurate and respectful representation of men and women with transsexualism or transgender people in text fosters positive community attitudes and breaks down stereotypes. Stereotypes have only a passing acquaintance with the truth and work against quality reporting or education. I — Terminologyaffirmed* male - a legally affirmed male with a variation in his physical sexual formation (usually identified female at birth). affirmed female - a legally affirmed female with a variation in her physical sexual formation (usually identified male at birth). Examples— A person who has affirmed their female sex is referred to as a woman, an affirmed female or a female of transsexual background rather than a "male-to-female transsexual" or an "MTF". Similarly, a person who has affirmed their male sex is referred to as a man, an affirmed male or a male with transsexual background rather than a "female-to-male transsexual" or an "FTM". transsexualism - a recognised medical condition affecting men and women. Examples— Men and women living with transsexualism or men and women with a transsexual past - is appropriate for those men and women who experience a variation in their physical sexual formation. The term "transsexual" on its own is usually considered to be demeaning and objectifying of the man or woman it is applied to. The person comes before the condition. 'Sex change' - a demeaning and depersonalising term previously used to refer to transgender people or men and women with a background of transsexualism. Men (and women) with a particular medical condition tend not to appreciate being described as the medical condition. Examples—
transgender - usually appropriate for people who express gender contrary to their legally assigned sex. FTM/MTF - abbreviations for female-to-male and male-to-female individuals respectively. Not used by all in common. Examples— A transgender female-to-male (FTM) person uses hormones and/or surgery to enhance their transgender identity and is usually referred to as a transman, a transgender man or other personal identity label. Similarly, a transgender male-to-female (MTF) person uses of hormones and/or surgery to enhance their transgender identity and is usually referred to as a transwoman, a transgender woman or other personal identity label. transman / transwoman - blended nouns used by some people, offensive to others.
II — Use of PronounsA person should be referred to at all times with pronouns appropriate to their identity. If in doubt, it is perfectly acceptable to ask the individual. Using the pronouns and possessive adjectives of the person's birth-sex can be extremely offensive and inaccurate. Examples—
She, Her - appropriate and desirable for women and girls (usually identified male at birth). He, Him and His - appropriate and desirable for men and boys (usually identified female at birth).
III — Sex Affirmation ProceduresSurgical treatment to harmonise a man or woman's physical body with their core gender identity is called sex affirmation treatment (SAT) or sex affirmation surgery (SAS). This is medical treatment under the care of medical professionals involved in the rehabilitative process of harmonising a person's sexually differentiated body with the person's neurological sex. The nature and extent of sex affirmation surgery differs between affirmed females and affirmed males. Sex affirmation treatment is rehabilitative* in goal and purpose and not in imitation of a cultural conception of the function or appearance of a perfect male or female body. Sex affirmation surgery does not require results that are either cosmetically or functionally 'perfect' or complete in order to be considered successful. The goal or purpose of SAS is the attainment of sexual unity and comfort for the man or woman concerned. Unless your article is about surgical developments or specifically about an individual's genitals, any reference to a man or woman's affirmation surgery procedures or what their genitals may appear like, is highly offensive. Generally speaking, if someone has had sex affirmation surgery*, this information should be considered confidential and should never be used in a story without their explicit prior consent.
Examples— The following terminology has been deplored when used in matters of ethnicity.
The similar usage of the word transsexuals or transgenders referring to transgender people or transsexual men and woman is equally inappropriate and offensive.
IV — The use of quotation marksNever put the following in quotation marks-
Examples—
Best practice when writing personal stories or media items about transgender people or men and women of transsexual background, always ask the individual how they wish to be identified. People usually prefer to be identified by their name. When in doubt, it's always safest (and most respectful) to ask. To do otherwise shows intentional disrespect to media subjects, and could be injurious. The man or woman you are addressing or describing may not be transgender or alternately may even not have a transsexual background.
V — Further reading
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"the
transsexual said…"
"the
woman with transsexualism said…"
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