Pat Manuel, Trans boxer and LGBT advocate, discusses defamation of the trans community as acknowledged during Trans Day of Remembrance.
On November 20th, 2013, the world took time to honor and remember the transgender people who lost their lives. During the ceremony, local advocates read off the list of individuals who died, the date of their discovery and how they died. Many of these individuals died in violent ways. However in some countries, the authorities failed to acknowledge their genders.
Media and news outlets use defamatory comments to describe transgender people. GLAAD, “Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation,” describes defamatory statements as follows:
Defamatory: “deceptive,” “fooling,” “pretending,” “posing” or “masquerading”
Gender identity is an integral part of a person’s identity. Do not characterize transgender people as “deceptive,” as “fooling” other people, or as “pretending” to be, “posing” or “masquerading” as a man or a woman. Such descriptions are defamatory and insulting.Defamatory: “she-male,” “he-she,” “it,” “trannie,” “tranny,” “shim,” “gender-bender”
These words only serve to dehumanize transgender people and should not be used.Defamatory: “bathroom bill”
A new term created and used by far-right extremists to oppose non-discrimination laws that protect transgender people. The term is geared to incite fear and panic at the thought of encountering transgender people in public restrooms. Use non-discrimination law/ordinance instead.
Manuel said that it is “common to see trans brothers and sisters defamed in countries such as Brazil… In Brazil there seems to be a disconnect between the gay community and the trans community.”
Manuel statements came after 38 members on the TDOR list are from Brazil. Manuel stated “These are just the ones that were reported. Think about the ones that are mis-gendered, or unreported.”
Manuel is familiar with defamation in the sport of boxing and as a bouncer at the local Hamburger Mary’s. Manuel also stood with Fallon Fox after Fox came out as a trans woman and faced defamation from the sports community.
Manuel is a Trans-male boxer preparing for his greatest comeback yet!
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