Rainbow
Identity Association an organisation that advocates for the human rights of
trangernder and intersex people and their inclusion. This article concerned RIA
because it completely misgendered Blu subjecting them to gender stereotypes, discrimination
and stigma to both Blu and other transgender people. On behalf of Phio Blu Kenosi RIA would like to clarify a
few things regarding the article that was published on the Midweek Sun dated
6/06/2018 which’s headline read “Confessions of an Asexual woman”. The reason
for this clarification is not only was Blu misgendered but also that the
article By Yvonne Mooka deliberately kept labled Blu even captioned their
picture as an asexual woman and referring to Blu as a woman which we understand
Blu had explained to Yvonne that was not Blu’s preferred pronoun, Blu is a
Transgender Asexual person whose preferred pronoun is They and/or Them. Even
though Blu is female bodied they do not identify as a woman and it is rather
insensitive and discriminatory to refer to them as she especially after Blu
explained to her what transgender and being asexual means. We would like to
apologize to the public for being misinformed by the article. To add more
clarity to this:
TRANSGENDER: Transgender people are those who
have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from their assigned
sex. In simpler terms a tran person is a person whose body does not conform to
the gender they identify with for example someone female bodied may identify as
a he therefore being transman or does not identity with any gender hence gender
non-conforming..
ASEXUAL:
a person who has no sexual feelings or desires.
Rainbow
Identity Association (RIA) fight, advocate and lobby every single day to
sensetise people about the importance of accepting and respecting trans and
intersex people in our communities and Editors come up with such headlines creates
misconception around the whole article, in this context The Midweek Sun make RIA efforts to make the world a better place free from transphobia go to waste
and impossible to get positive results. Such headlines makes it difficult for
other trans people who want to share their stories with the media question if they
too will be subjected to such headlines disregarding their stories. It is
important that you know that such articles affects the sources emotionally and
mentally even the families they come from with so much discrimination as is
already. While speaking to Blu about this ordeal this is what they had to say
”I was interviewed by The Midweek Sun and the resulting article was
“Confessions of an asexual woman” I would like to clarify that the part about
me being a woman is false, I was assigned female at birth (AFAB) but I do not
identify as such. The article tries to explain this concept but fails to convey
my sentiments. I am a trans identifying person and the article should have
included this aspect of my identity because it is an important aspect of my
life. I was asked questions pertaining to my identity and because this is one
such detail I explained in the beginning of the interview that I am a Trans Non
Binary person meaning I am neither male nor female bit rather fall within the
spectrum that is gender and express in a masculine manner. The truths about my
sexuality conveyed within the article and it is true that I do not experience
sexual attraction”
RIA is are hoping that the newspaper will mobalise
their journalists and editors and find a date in which RIA can come and train
them on Transgender and Intersex issues. The newspaper can then write a follow
up story and clarify these issues to their readers as the headline of the
article distorts the entire article.
For
more information please contact Rainbow Identity Association on:
Facebook-
Rainbow Identity
Website-Rainbow
Identity Association
Phone-
3905493
By Urbenia Kgwarae
RIA Media Officer
