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

Headlines about trans people, 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

A headline in The Sun on June 25 2018. (The Sun)
“Bullies and trolls”—The Times

An anti-trans headline in The Times on October 1 2018. (The Times)
“Trans lobby”—The Telegraph

A November 19 headline in The Telegraph. (The Telegraph)
“Women WILL be allowed to bar transgender people”—Daily Mail

A headline in the Daily Mail on June 24. (MailOnline)
“Trans stripper”—The Sunday Times

An anti-trans headline in The Sunday Times on December 23 2018. (The Sunday Times)
“Transgender drugs”—Daily Mail

A headline in the Daily Mail on November 30 2018. (Daily Mail)
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