• ELIXHER
• On June 3, 2014

UPDATE: The Chicago Sun-Times has removed a transphobic op-ed originally written for the National Review by Kevin D. Williamson, claiming that Laverne Cox is not a woman. Yesterday media watchdog GLAAD spoke to the editors and the Sun-Times Editorial Page Editor Tom McNamee sent a statement to organization explaining: “We try to present a range of views on an issue, not only those views we may agree with, but also those we don’t agree with. A recent op-ed piece we ran online that was produced by another publication initially struck as provocative. Upon further consideration, we concluded the essay did not include some key facts and its overall tone was not consistent with what we seek to publish.” Individuals and organizations such as Woman, Action, and the Media (WAM) had rallied to Cox’s support garnering thousands of signatures via online petitions.

Readers are petitioning for the Chicago Sun-Times to retract the transphobic “op-ed” entitled “Laverne Cox is Not a Woman,” by Kevin Williamson, a former deputy managing editor of the conservative National Review. The article continually misgenders actress Laverne Cox, who graces the current cover of TIME magazine, and perpetuates inaccuracies about gender identity.

Media watchdog GLAAD corrected some of the falsehoods stating:

• He claims that the “phenomenon” of being transgender is a “modern one,” but this statement is far from the truth. Transgender and gender non-conforming people have existed throughout history, in various parts of the world, by many names.

• Both the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association have stated that trying to change a person’s gender identity is no more successful than trying to change a person’s sexual orientation. Not only does it fail, it can cause serious damage to the person attempting to make such an adjustment.

• There are ways of addressing gender dysphoria supported by the APA, which says it “recognizes the efficacy, benefit, and medical necessity of gender transition treatments for appropriately evaluated individuals and calls upon public and private insurers to cover these medically necessary treatments.”

There is a Change.org petition where readers are demanding the paper retract the piece. You can sign it here.