There wouldn’t be such a danger of misgendering people if their stories weren’t blown up nationally just because of their gender. Take for example the Associated Press, which was anxious to promote a story on Minneapolis electing two black transgender city council members Tuesday.
The Associated Press, which literally tells writers how to handle questions of gender usage correctly in its AP Stylebook, didn’t quite follow the rules Wednesday.
We've deleted a Wednesday tweet about two transgender City Council members elected in Minneapolis because it misidentified one of them as a woman. A replacement tweet is upcoming.
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 9, 2017
The thing is, the AP can’t explain why what it wrote initially is incorrect without breaking more of its own rules.
https://twitter.com/jugiearmstrong/status/928697693970591744
you had a 50% chance of getting it right… https://t.co/AaBgloA45b
— Prez Probs (@prezprobs) November 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/Janlynn88/status/928731915129114624
Destination: Back before this ? started pic.twitter.com/W4k0FS4w6d
— (((L.N. Smithee))) (@LNSmithee) November 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/AdamBaldwin/status/928756722776207360
We’re living in a #SouthPark episode
— Ben Cho (@BenChoReal) November 9, 2017
Definitely a first world problem.
— Resist We Much (now on Parler) (@WeFoundAmerica) November 9, 2017
Didn't they just commit a crime according to California state law.
— Merrak (@merrak01) November 9, 2017
Will AP be going to jail in California then?
— James Pugh (@jpughinreallife) November 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/journalismuncut/status/928737313726877696
Peak 2017 https://t.co/GoiqcZTF0u
— Jeffrey Bloomfield (@jbloomfield888) November 9, 2017
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) November 9, 2017
No problem @AP were all confused by this https://t.co/EEoM7PByKv
— Ronald W Hansen ?? (@rwhansen14) November 9, 2017
So, let me get this straight. Tweet pulled due to a man who thinks he's a woman was called a woman instead of a man. Right? https://t.co/miIpBmBLsq
— Kendall Harbison (@kaharbiso) November 10, 2017
This stuff makes my head hurt. https://t.co/ams9xLaRSi
— Captain Obvious (@CaptObviousSTL) November 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/PFencesMusic/status/928705786573967360
https://twitter.com/WeWuzMetokur/status/928698179972935683
When the identity politics boomerang comes around and smacks the person who threw it in the face https://t.co/IEb7Yva88T
— Chris Antenucci (@chrisantenucci) November 9, 2017
Here’s the corrected tweet:
Virginia isn't the only state with a new transgender official. Minneapolis elected two transgender members to its City Council this week. https://t.co/DmbGSvklUf
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 9, 2017
* * *
Related:
'Kill me now'! Meet the WaPo writer who's proudly raising her cats 'gender-neutral' https://t.co/vZdtSH0kDo pic.twitter.com/d2IqATu4fT
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 5, 2016
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