Elliot Page highlighted anti-trans violence when he came out. Broadcast news followed.
Page wrote on Twitter: “My joy is real, but it is also fragile. … The discrimination toward trans people is rife, insidious and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences.”
Written by Brianna January
Published
On December 1, actor Elliot Page, famous for his roles in Juno and The Umbrella Academy, came out as a transgender and nonbinary person who uses “he” and “they” pronouns, and he used his platform to highlight the epidemic of anti-trans violence. Broadcast TV news coverage of his announcement followed his example and reported on the violence, which is generally inadequately covered, particularly on national TV news.
In his post, Page wrote, “In 2020 alone it has been reported that at least 40 transgender people have been murdered, the majority of which were Black and Latinx trans women.”
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has reported that that number makes 2020 the deadliest year on record for trans people in the U.S. Trans people are disproportionately vulnerable to violence due to discriminatory societal factors, such as heightened barriers to accessing health care, stable housing, and jobs. The rates of anti-trans attacks in the U.S. have become so grave that in 2019, the American Medical Association called the situation an “epidemic of violence against the transgender community.”
Broadcast news followed Page’s lead, highlighting the violence and discrimination trans people regularly face
Following Page’s announcement, broadcast TV news outlets aired reports highlighting the discrimination and violence trans people experience.
In a December 1 report on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, reporter Kate Snow noted, “The number of trans and gender nonconforming people killed has increased dramatically over the past few years, with a record of more than 40 deaths this year, the majority people of color.”
The same segment featured trans actress Laverne Cox, who was recently targeted in an anti-trans attack, stating, “It’s not safe if you’re a trans person.” This was the only mention of the attack on national broadcast or cable news. Clara Taylor, the parent of a trans person killed earlier this year, said, “They need to know that they have somebody that's willing to fight for them. A lot of them are so scared.”
Citation From the December 1, 2020, edition of NBC's NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt
KATE SNOW (REPORTER): But Page also said he's scared, citing hate and violence against trans people.
(CLIP BEGINS)
LAVERNE COX (ACTRESS): All of a sudden, the guy is attacking my friend.
(CLIP ENDS)
SNOW: Last weekend, actress Laverne Cox posted about an attack in an L.A. park.
(CLIP BEGINS)
COX: It's not safe if you're a trans person.
(CLIP ENDS)
SNOW: The number of trans and gender nonconforming people killed has increased dramatically over the past few years with a record of more than 40 deaths this year, the majority people of color. Clara Taylor lost her child in October.
(CLIP BEGINS)
CLARA TAYLOR (PARENT OF MURDERED TRANS PERSON): They need to know that they have somebody that's willing to fight for them. A lot of them are so scared.
(CLIP ENDS)
SNOW: Across social media today, an outpouring of support. Elliot Page will continue to play Vanya in season 3. Netflix tweeting, “So proud of our superhero.”
“To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day,” his message ended, “I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better."
The next day, ABC’s Good Morning America aired a segment in which reporter Janai Norman similarly highlighted the epidemic of anti-trans violence. Norman said, “For those living their truth, coming out as trans can be dangerous.”
Citation From the December 2, 2020, edition of ABC's Good Morning America
ROBIN ROBERTS (HOST): We have that big announcement from an Oscar-nominated actor known for Juno and The Umbrella Academy announcing he is transgender. Elliot Page came out publicly with a post about his identity, saying his joy is real but fragile. Janai Norman joins us with so much more. Good morning, Janai.
JANAI NORMAN (REPORTER): Robin, good morning. You know, it was that line in particular that I thought was so poignant. The star who we've all known and loved for years writing, “Despite feeling profoundly happy, I'm also scared." Page bravely making that powerful announcement while also calling attention to the staggering statistics about the violence trans people face.
...
NORMAN: For those living their truth, coming out as trans can be dangerous. According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 40 trans and nonbinary people have been murdered this year alone, the majority being trans women of color. Page revealing he's scared of the hate, citing the staggering discrimination and violence trans people face, writing, “To all transpeople who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you and I I will do everything I can to change this world for the better."
...
NORMAN: And in that post, now liked nearly two and a half million times, Elliot pointing out that within the trans community, 40% of trans adults report attempting suicide. That number almost makes your heart stop. But he adds some more, “I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am. The more I dream, the more my heart grows, and the more I thrive." And, guys, that's what we love to see.
Also on December 1, a segment on CBS This Morning cited data on anti-trans violence and featured GLAAD’s Nick Adams, who noted that “while we see growing acceptance, we also see growing backlash particularly during the last four years of this administration."
Citation From the December 2, 2020, edition of CBS' CBS This Morning
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS (CORRESPONDENT): Page came out as gay in 2014 and has been married to Emma Porter for nearly three years. In this post, he shared his fears: “I'm scared of the invasiveness, the hate ... and of violence. ... The discrimination towards trans people is rife, insidious and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences."
According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 40 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been killed this year alone. Most of them Black and Latinx transgender women.
Nick Adams is with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
(CLIP BEGINS)
NICK ADAMS (GLAAD): While we see growing acceptance, we also see growing backlash, particularly during the last four years of this administration.
These outlets used Page's former name, a practice known as deadnaming that can be stigmatizing to trans people. They should refrain from doing so in the future, as per guidance in the Trans Journalists Association style guide.
Broadcast and cable TV news have inadequately covered anti-trans violence for years
Page’s focus on anti-trans violence, and broadcast news’ subsequent coverage of it, helped highlight an issue that is critically underreported and inadequately covered in the news. Violence disproportionately affects trans people of color, particularly those who are denied access to employment and housing, and Page used his platform as a successful queer actor to shine a light on violence facing an oft-forgotten community.
A 2019 Media Matters study of cable and broadcast TV news aired between 5 p.m. and midnight found that evening TV news spent just over 33 minutes covering the year’s then-record levels of violence against trans people. Nearly half of this, or 15 minutes, occurred during CNN’s LGBTQ town hall featuring Democratic presidential candidates being interviewed about LGBTQ rights and policy. Outside of its town hall event, CNN’s evening programs spent a little over 12 minutes discussing the topic, Fox News dedicated less than one minute of evening programming to it, and MSNBC’s evening shows failed to cover it at all.
In 2020, Media Matters found that cable and broadcast news covered anti-trans violence for 29 minutes in June, which is Pride Month, and then largely failed to cover it in July and August. Additionally, a Media Matters review of news reporting on victims of anti-trans violence in 2020 found 139 news articles that deadnamed or misgendered 23 out of 37 victims.
Reports so often misidentify victims of anti-trans violence that Media Matters, Human Rights Campaign, and Trans Journalists Association released a FAQ for reporters covering anti-trans violence.