: Avoid reducing a person's identity to their medical history or surgical status. Use professional guides like the Radical Copyeditor’s Style Guide to avoid language that focuses solely on biological "before and after" narratives.
6 tips for writing about transgender people and issues - Typeset proper shemale
: Terms like "shemale," "tranny," or "he-she" are widely considered offensive and dehumanizing. Instead, use accurate terms like transgender woman , trans woman , or simply woman , depending on the context. : Avoid reducing a person's identity to their
: Always use the name and pronouns a person currently uses. Referring to a person by their birth name (often called "deadnaming") without permission is considered harmful. Instead, use accurate terms like transgender woman ,
: When writing characters or reporting, seek feedback from the transgender community or hire a sensitivity reader to ensure the portrayal is authentic and avoids harmful tropes. Recommended Terminology Avoid This Transgender woman / Trans woman "Shemale", "Transsexual" (unless preferred) Assigned male at birth (AMAB) "Born a man", "Biologically male" Gender-affirming surgery "Sex change", "The surgery" Transitioning "Gender identity disorder" (outdated)
To write ethically about transgender people, consider the following best practices: