Trans ‘extremists’ and ‘rapists’: How the media reported on trans people in 2018

It’s been a hard year for trans people living in the UK.

With the government announcing a long overdue reform of the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), trans people have been targeted by the national press at a heightened intensity.

The airing of dramas such as ITV’s Butterfly also sparked vitriolic press coverage about trans children and the work of charity Mermaids UK, which supports gender diverse kids.

The trans community have been hounded, dehumanised and demonised by the UK’s mainstream media on a regular basis.

Campaigners have compared the press’ treatment of trans people, which research has shown are disproportionately affected by mental health issues, to the media coverage of gay and bisexual men during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. 

All too often, trans people are treated like they are second-class citizens by the media.

To highlight this, PinkNews has compiled a list of anti-trans headlines throughout 2018, with the help of charity Trans Media Watch, which aims improve the media’s coverage of trans issues, and journalist Paris Lees. 

“Tran and wife”—The Sun

“Bullies and trolls”—The Times

“Trans lobby”—The Telegraph

“Women WILL be allowed to bar transgender people”—Daily Mail

“Trans stripper”—The Sunday Times

“Transgender drugs”—Daily Mail