On June 11, the trial of Dwight DeLee for the murder of Lateisha Green begins. Lateisha was a trans woman who died from gunshot wounds in Syracuse on November 18. And like the murder of Angie Zapata, Lateisha’s murder is being tried as a hate crime.
But local media insist on repeatedly disrespecting her gender identity in their reporting on the case. The fact that Lateisha was a woman was made known very quickly by her friends and family. So there’s no excuse whatsoever for the Syracuse media to be reporting on her murder using an incorrect name and pronouns days, weeks or months after her death — not to mention now.
Using the correct pronouns and name for Lateisha or any trans person matters. It matters firstly on a level of respect and basic decency. And it matters also on a practical level when it comes to ensuring justice. Dwight DeLee’s lawyers have given strong indications that they plan to use the “trans panic” defense — and while it is a defense that thankfully failed for Allen Andrade, we can hardly therefore expect it to fail again.
Local reporting on this case is going to affect how jurors see Lateisha. It may be true that jurors are expected to come to a case without pre-conceived judgments of guilt or innocence — but subconscious bias is virtually impossible to avoid. And if for some reason Dwight DeLee is cleared of the charges brought against him, it damn well ought to be because of evidence and not because of Lateisha’s gender identity. The point of wanting inoffensive reporting is not to sway the case — it’s to make sure that the case is not swayed and that Lateisha is represented fairly and accurately.
For that reason, Monica of Transgriot has asked you to contact Syracuse media outlets and RESPECTFULLY ask them to follow the AP Style Guide, which prescribes using correct pronouns. And I think it’s an excellent idea. I’d also suggest asking that they use the NY Times Style Guide (see previous link), which additionally prescribes using a trans person’s correct name.
I’m not in Syracuse (though I am nearby), but I’ve taken the liberty of finding contact information for three news outlets which I have found violating the above standards:
News 10 Now (ETA: Please see comments for responses and actions from Channel 10 before contacting them further.)
(315) 234-1000 Ext. 2
Online Contact Form
NewsChannel 9 WSYR
(315) 446-9999
NewsChannel9@9wsyr.com
The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com
(315) 251-1810
Online Contact Form
If there’s a prominent news outlet I’ve missed that has been making these same serious errors, let me know in the comments.
Give a call or write an email now, referring to the AP and New York Times style guidelines for reporting on transgender people, and asking them to follow those standards. If you’re from the Syracuse area, say so explicitly! And if you’re not . . . I’d just go with a “I’ve seen your coverage regarding this case and am very concerned” approach.
But speak up! If enough of us do it, it really can make a difference.
NOTE: This is not a place for trans 101 questions. If you have one, google it.