Transphobia at Seventeen
This post was submitted by Hannah.
Photo: Ed Jackson
This month Seventeen magazine published an article titled “My Boyfriend Turned Out to be a Girl”. The article portrays Sheri, who dated a female-to-male transman named Derek (which means ‘he is a he,’ not the offensive ‘he is a she’). Once Derek was outed as trans, Sheri depicts him as a deceptive liar. The article features other girls’ stories of “total betrayal” from a boyfriend. Examples of ‘total betrayal’ listed include: a drug addict, a pervert who cruises craigslist looking for casual sex, or an older man who knowingly pursues a girl young enough to be his daughter.
Instead of taking this article as an opportunity for educating readers about transgender issues, this article portrays transgender people as liars and as being creepy in general. The article reduces a transperson to their genitalia and chromosomes instead of treating someone as a unique individual.
Teen activist Adrian Pedroza started a Facebook letter writing campaign: “Letter writing to Seventeen Magazine–WRITE NOW”. Here is part of the letter I wrote to Seventeen:
Dear Editor,
I recently read your article “My boyfriend turned out to be a girl”. I’m disappointed at Seventeen comparing a transsexual to a pedophile, drug addict, or someone who cruises craigslist for casual sex. In addition, the article uses improper pronouns for Derek and highlights the quote “it felt as if my whole first love was a lie.” I’m curious: How many girls do you think have been hurt by someone who was biologically born a man? Would you present that same story this way? Those are honest questions to ask yourself. Have you considered that perhaps some of your readers are transgender and how this article may affect them?
Sincerely,
Hannah
I received an auto reply email promising that someone would read the email and get back to me. I know I’m not the only one who feels offended by this article—check out GLSEN, Pam’s House Blend, and Queerty. I’m curious to see what Seventeen’s response to this article will be.
I read that article (my sister gets Seventeen). As a transguy, I wasn’t really that offended by actual story as much as the way Seventeen treated the story (by putting it with all the “He’s a druggie! He’s a daddy!” stories and all the “He’s a SHE!” nonsense). I mean, the girl says that she would have stayed with him if he had been honest with her…Her statement “When you love someone, you love all of him” is really good. And it wasn’t like she dumped him over it…He dumped her after cheating on her and then brought his new girlfriend (aka ‘the other woman’) over to her house (what a total asshole).
Plus, she does use a fake male name for him and continually uses male pronouns in the story.
I actually feel bad for the girl, the dude was a jerk (but not because he’s trans).
Seventeen magazine does owe an apology and an explanation though.
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