Summary
Official writing LGBTQAI+ writing guidelines for the Red Pheonix, the newspaper for the American Party of Labor, in which they have a policy of intentionally misgendering people with neo-pronouns.
Original APL Document
| lgbtqia__red_ph._writing_guidelines.pdf |
Text
LGBTQIA+ Red Phoenix Writing Guidelines
Section One: General Language Usage
Section Two: General Party Lines
Section One: General Language Usage
- LGBTQIA+ or Queer?
- Use LGBTQIA+ in formal writing that covers the entire community. Queer can be used in place of LGBTQIA+ in writing if need be for context and writing flow.
- DO NOT use LGBTQIA+ when talking about specific groups within the overall community. If the article is about transgender people specifically, use the term “transgender” etc.
- Transgender or Trans?
- In formal writing spell out the full wording for communities in question. Do not use shorthand. An article should read the transgender community, NOT “the trans community.”
- Terms for specific transgender people such as trans-masculine or trans-feminine are fully acceptable and commonly used to include nonbinary people who have transitioned in some way (socially, medically, etc).
- For example, not everyone who uses estrogen for the purpose of gender affirmation is a transgender woman, since many nonbinary trans-feminine people use HRT.
- For example, not everyone who uses estrogen for the purpose of gender affirmation is a transgender woman, since many nonbinary trans-feminine people use HRT.
- Never use the terms “transwoman” or “transman.” Always use the terminology transgender woman and transgender man (or transgender girl/boy when speaking about youths, especially prepubescent children). Transgender is always an adjective because, ie, transgender women are women etc.
- These guidelines apply equally to cisgender instead of “cis.”
- Gender-nonconforming?
- In place of “gender-queer” use the term gender-nonconforming as a more correct umbrella term for all people who exist outside of socially accustomed gender norms. This is especially important in contexts which include cisgender people – such as many drag performers and people who may dress or express themselves in a certain way that doesn’t necessarily equate to their gender (ie, a cisgender man who wears a dress, or a cisgender girl/woman who is a “tomboy,” cisgender butch lesbians, etc).
- Gender-queer is acceptable for usage when a person’s self-described gender identity is gender-queer.
- Pronouns
- When quoting a direct source, it is standard practice to include the person’s name and age (i.e.: “Natasha, 39, says...”). We want to make a habit to also include the person’s pronouns when known (i.e.: “Natasha, 39, she/her, says…”).
- When quoting a direct source, it is standard practice to include the person’s name and age (i.e.: “Natasha, 39, says...”). We want to make a habit to also include the person’s pronouns when known (i.e.: “Natasha, 39, she/her, says…”).
- “Masc”/”Fem”?
- Just like with transgender instead of “trans,” use the full words of masculine and feminine. “Masc” and “fem” are just too informal; the RP is not the place for shorthand.
- “Femme” is generally not appropriate when referring to feminine people (such as feminine nonbinary people) because it is historically a specifically lesbian cultural identity, just like butch.
- BIPOC or Multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi-racial? (Also: Latinx?)
- “BIPOC” is rooted in postmodern thought and identity politics. Multi-ethnic, multi-national, and multi-racial are more materialistic and Marxist terminology for minority segments of the working class. Which one you use depends on context; be precise with what exactly you are trying to say. BIPOC as a term also engages in cultural erasure.
- “Latinx” is another word we don’t use for similar reasoning as BIPOC. Latino is the default to include all genders (the community as a whole), also used specifically for men, and Latina would be used for women. (In some cases Latine is gaining traction as a neutral form of Latino/a which is actually pronounceable and compatible with the Spanish language, but it is not appropriate for us to use as English speakers at this point.)
- “Latinx” is another word we don’t use for similar reasoning as BIPOC. Latino is the default to include all genders (the community as a whole), also used specifically for men, and Latina would be used for women. (In some cases Latine is gaining traction as a neutral form of Latino/a which is actually pronounceable and compatible with the Spanish language, but it is not appropriate for us to use as English speakers at this point.)
- Specific races/ethnic/national groups should always be capitalized such as: Black, African-American, Chicano(a), Navajo, Chinese, etc. White is not capitalized because it generally is not an identity in itself.
- Using youth or minor vs. “child”?
- Reactionaries tend to focus on the terms “child” and “children.” We want to avoid using similar language. We want youth (a physiological designation) liberation and protections of minors (a legal designation).
- Use the term child only when appropriate to do so – ie prepubescent youths, or in a propagandistic sense (such as making an agitational point, like when a 15 year old is vilified by reactionary media and referred to as a “man” we can make a point by specifying that this person was a “child.” We see this often when Black youths are victims of brutality.)
- Transphobe or TERF? (*queer-antagonistic revisionism*)
- Never use the term “transphobic” or “transphobia.” Use instead anti-transgender. This also follows with “homophobia.” It should be anti-LGBTQIA+, anti-gay, or anti-queer. These are adjectives, not nouns.
- When talking about anti-LGBTQIA+ Marxist currents we can label them as queer-antagonistic revisionism. Revisionism here not only applies to revisionism of Marxism but also historical revisionism.
- TERF is specific to a particular faction of “radical feminism” and NOT synonymous with “transphobia” or anti-transgender bigotry. It is very rarely applicable unless you are specifically referring to an actual Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist.
Section Two: General Party Lines
- Party Line on Sex
- Human sexual designation (“biological sex”) should never be labeled as a “binary.” Sexual designation is a spectrum with a multitude of possibilities
- Party Line on Gender
- Gender is a social phenomenon (not social “construct”) that has internalized and externalized segments. It is not something that solely exists within a person.
- Gender can and has varied over time, place, culture, and society based on several factors including level of productive forces.
- Gender should also be treated as a spectrum with a multitude of possibilities.
- If you do not know a person’s pronouns for certain, use the term “they” when referring to them in writing.
- Neo-Pronouns
- Do not use neo-pronouns unless you are interviewing someone who uses them for their own identification.
- Party Line on Gender Affirming Care for Youth
- Do not bring up physical “sex changes” when talking about minors. Most doctors will not perform transition surgery on anyone under the age of 18.
- All talk of transgender healthcare when concerning minors should focus on therapy, hormonal, and gender-affirming treatments (including social transition) that are recommended by medical professionals for under-age peoples.
