2. Choose one group
African Americans Jews
People with disabilities Asian Americans
Latinos Transgender people
Gay and lesbian people Women
Arab Americans Muslims
Native Americans Immigrants
14. Wheelchair-bound/confined to a
wheelchair
• Why not?: These terms describe people only
in relationship to a piece of equipment, not as
individuals
• Inaccurate: Wheelchairs actually enable
people who use them
• Instead say: A person who uses a wheelchair
21. Illegal alien, illegal immigrant, illegals
• Why not?: You are effectively saying the
individual, as opposed to the actions the
person has taken, is unlawful.
• Inaccurate: People aren’t illegal; actions are.
Instead say: undocumented worker or
undocumented immigrant.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26. biologically male, genetically male,
born a man
• Why not? These are all problematic terms. A
person's sex is determined by a number of
factors, not just genetics.
• Inaccurate: People are born babies - they are
not "born a man" or "born a woman.”
• Instead say: transgender, trans man, trans
woman
27. sex change, pre-operative, post-
operative
• Why not? Referring to a "sex-change
operation," or using terms such as "pre-
operative" or "post-operative,” suggests that
one must have surgery in order to transition.
• Inaccurate: Changing gender is a process that
may or may not include surgery
• Instead say: transition, sex-reassignment
surgery and don’t focus on surgery unless
your subject does
28. Tips for Reporting on Transgender
People
• Always use a transgender person's chosen name.
• When possible, ask transgender people which
pronoun they would like you to use.
• If you can’t ask the source, use the pronoun that
is consistent with the person's appearance and
gender expression. For example, if a person
wears a dress and uses the name Susan, feminine
pronouns are usually appropriate.
• Never put quotation marks around a transgender
person's chosen name or the pronoun that
reflects that person's gender identity.
Source: GLAAD Media Reference Guide
32. gay marriage, same-sex marriage
• Why not? While these terms are commonly
used by mainstream media organizations,
many lesbian and gay people find them
offensive because they suggest “gay marriage”
is different from marriage between a man and
woman
• Instead use: marriage equality
• Example: Marriage equality is now the law of
the land
35. commit suicide
• Why not? The verb commit with suicide
suggests a criminal act.
• Inaccurate: Laws against suicide have been
repealed in the United States and many other
places.
• Instead say: killed himself, took her own life or
died by suicide.
36.
37. Birth defect, defect
• Offensive: A defect is defined as an
imperfection or shortcoming. Many people
consider such terms offensive when describing
a disability as they imply the person is
deficient or inferior to others.
• Instead use: Name the condition or describe
the disability.
• Example: She was born with cerebral palsy.
38.
39.
40. Sexual preference
• Why not: The term "sexual preference"
suggests that being lesbian, gay or bisexual is
a choice and therefore can and should be
"cured.”
• Instead use: sexual orientation
43. afflicted with/stricken with/suffers
from/victim of
• Why not: These terms carry the assumption
that a person with a disability is suffering or
has a reduced quality of life.
• Inaccurate: Not every person with a disability
suffers, is a victim or is stricken.
• Instead: Use neutral terms.
• Example: He has muscular dystrophy or She
was born with a heart condition.
44. Other tips
• Be careful of puns when writing about
sensitive issues
45.
46.
47. Other tips
• Be careful of the tone you use when writing
about sensitive issues
