Translating Transphobia: Portrayals of Transgender Australians in the Press 2016 - 2017 ** Warning: Report contains transphobic slurs, vilifying language, prejudicial language, and expressions of violence towards transgender people ** © 2018 1 In Memory of Tyra Hunter and Mayang Prasetyo “Denigrated in Death as Well as in Life” 2 Table of Contents 1.0 Key Findings ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 2.0 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 3.0 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 4.0 Background Information ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 4.1 Gender Diversity ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 4.2 Gender Dysphoria ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 4.3 Gillick Competency ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 4.4 Medical Efficacy ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 4.5 Consequences of Denying Medical Treatment ................................................................................................................................................ 15 4.6 Alternative Forms of Treatment ............................................................................................................................................................................ 15 4.7 Transgender Australians and Society ................................................................................................................................................................. 16 4.7.1 Social Intolerance ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 4.7.2 Violence .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 4.7.3 Poverty and Employment................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 4.7.4 Domestic Violence .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 4.7.5 Socio-economic Health ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 4.7.6 Mental Health ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 5. Research Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 6. Results ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20 6.1 Sentiment Analysis ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 6.2 Prejudicial Language ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 6.2.1 The Term “Confused” ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 22 6.2.2 The Term “Child abuse” ................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 6.2.3 The Term “Mutilation” ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 6.2.4 The Term “Chopped” ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 6.2.5 The Term “Delusional” ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 6.2.6 Whole Articles Dedicated to Prejudice ..................................................................................................................................................... 27 6.2.7 Language Inciting Moral Panic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 6.3 Gratuitous Emphasis ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 6.4 Press Council Adjudication #1707 ....................................................................................................................................................................... 29 6.5 Press Council Adjudication #1655 ....................................................................................................................................................................... 32 6.6 Transgender Woman in Custody in UK .............................................................................................................................................................. 33 6.7 Balance and Fairness ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 6.7.1 Opinions of Medical Experts .......................................................................................................................................................................... 33 6.7.2 Opinions of Medical Associations ................................................................................................................................................................ 34 6.8 Misinformation and Misrepresentation ............................................................................................................................................................. 35 6.8.1 Coverage of Proposed Reforms to Human Rights Treaty ................................................................................................................ 35 6.8.2 Claims that Hormone Therapy Causes Cancer ...................................................................................................................................... 36 6.8.3 Coverage of Sexual Assault by Transgender Woman ........................................................................................................................ 37 6.8.4 Claims Denying Pervasiveness of Discrimination against Transgender Australians ......................................................... 38 6.8.5 Articles Conflating Gender Dysphoria with Gender Expression .................................................................................................. 39 6.8.5 Allegations that Doctors or Educators are Promoting ‘Transgender Lifestyles’ .................................................................. 40 6.8.6 Claims that Transgender Australians are a mere ‘fad’ ...................................................................................................................... 41 6.8.7 News Stories Covering De-Transition ....................................................................................................................................................... 42 6.8.8 Misrepresentation of Law ..............................................................................................................................................................................