Summary

The article discusses the importance of respecting transgender individuals' chosen names and identities, emphasizing the harm of "deadnaming" and the need for society to educate itself on transgender issues.

Abstract

The piece, centered around Elliot Page's coming out as transgender, critiques the media's habit of "deadnaming," using a transgender person's birth name instead of their chosen name. It highlights why this practice is transphobic and invalidating, underscoring the importance of recognizing a transgender person's real name as the one they choose post-transition. The author, a cisgender woman, acknowledges her privilege and the necessity for individuals to educate themselves rather than expecting transgender people to bear the emotional labor of explaining their experiences. The article suggests resources for learning about transgender issues, including GLAAD's media reference guide and personal essays on Medium, and encourages following organizations like The Audre Lorde Project and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute for accurate information and news.

Opinions

The media's use of deadnaming is seen as a lazy and offensive practice that invalidates a transgender person's identity.
Deadnaming is not just upsetting but also implies that a transgender person's identity is not genuine, which is harmful to the entire transgender community.
The author believes that expecting transgender individuals to educate others about their experiences is burdensome and inappropriate.
It is noted that no single person can represent the entire transgender community, and thus, relying on one individual's experience is insufficient.
The article advocates for self-education as a sign of respect and care towards transgender individuals.
The author suggests that society's interest in transphobic content reflects in the media's reporting, emphasizing the need to make justice and equality more appealing to the public.
The piece calls for more comprehensive sex education, noting that only a few states require it to be medically accurate, which contributes to widespread ignorance about gender and sexuality.

As Elliot Page Comes Out, We Can All Learn A Lesson in “Dead Naming”

Why birthnames are transphobic.

Elliot Page/Page Six/Getty Images for IMDB [Source]

A common trend occurs when a celebrity comes out as transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming. News outlets, vying for our eyes amidst the internet kerfluffle, will use that person’s birth name to lure readers in.

This invalidating habit is called “deadnaming” and it is as lazy as it is offensive.

On a heartfelt Instagram post, Elliot Page came out for the second time in his life. “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they, and my name is Elliot.”

The media was quick to spread the news. Which was met with ample support and transphobic headlines. Seeing Elliot’s birthname used as bait to intrigue readers — rather than his actual name — showcases that our culture is still not listening to the transgender community. We are happy to sensationalize trans people for monetary gain. We work hard to appear inclusive so consumers won’t boycott products. Yet, as a society, we continue to barely graze the surface when it comes to true inclusion and understanding.

Why Are Birthnames Transphobic?

A deadname is “the name that a transgender person was given at birth and no longer uses upon transitioning” [Merriam-Webster]

Deadname is a verb, it is the act of addressing someone by a name they no longer use. When this is done it is not just upsetting, but invalidating of a person’s life and autonomy. It implies that the name and identity that someone like Elliot just shared, isn’t that person’s ‘real name’. Which then insinuates that their gender identity might not be true either. Frankly, it’s a sinister seed that is used to discredit the entire community of trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people.

A useful tool to understand transphobia better is GLAAD’s media reference guide. When discussing names specifically, the guide explains “a transgender person’s chosen name is their real name, whether or not they are able to obtain a court-ordered name change.”

The guide continues to explain the hypocrisy of deadnaming in the media. “Many people use names they have chosen for themselves, and the media does not mention their birth name when writing about them, (e.g., Lady Gaga, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg). Transgender people should be accorded the same respect.”

Show You Care About Others By Educating Yourself

I am a cis-gendered woman. This privilege bars me from understanding the transgender experience. Which leaves me with several options.

I can wait for other people to correct me
I can find a transgender person and ask them to educate me
Or, I can do a little research for myself

There are several compelling reasons why doing our own research is the right move.

First, it is insulting to expect marginalized people to spend their time educating privileged people. These conversations are traumatizing. When men ask me why sexual assault matters, I’m casually being asked to relive my trauma to convince a bystander to care. This is commonly referred to as “emotional labor”. As well-meaning as a person might be, it is burdensome to explain to an inexperienced acquaintance why your identity and needs matter.

Second, no one person can encapsulate an entire population’s experience. Yet, when one marginalized voice speaks, it is still assumed that they are speaking for everyone in that community.

Third, it is invasive, inappropriate, and rude. Would you ask your friend how his boyfriend kisses? Nope. Then perhaps it’s turbulent to ask someone about their gender, body, sexuality, or another intimate part of their life.

In Conclusion, Here Are A Few Resources

You are already on Medium, why not try searching for “transgender” “non-binary” or “gender-nonconforming” in the search bar. There are thousands of personal essays that provide diverse experiences about this community.

Next, search for trans and gender-nonconforming organizations that are founded by trans people. A few credible organizations I follow are The Audre Lorde Project and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. Pro-tip, when you find a reliable source see if they have a newsletter you can join. This allows you to receive the latest news on this community by people in the community. It’s a great way to educate yourself on the go.

Lastly, see if any of these organizations have guides available on their website. Even if a guide is written for a transperson, read through it. This will help you understand what civil rights people are fighting for and why they are fighting for them. It will also pinpoint the inequalities that currently exist in our system. The National Center for Transgender Inclusion is a good place to start.

The more we educate ourselves, the more we can interrupt transphobic patterns in mainstream society. After all, news outlets only reflect what people are interested in. So let’s make justice and equality more entertaining than transphobia.

Only 17 states are required to make sex education medically accurate. This means that it is normal for you to be uneducated about your body, your sexuality, and the sex you are currently having.

Let’s change that, here are 9 sex secrets you never learned in school.