Letters to the Editor
Not
OK to Disclose Name
In your wrap-up on openly LGBT candidates around the state, Paul Olsen
discusses Karen Kerin, who ran in the Republican primary for Attorney
General. I was surprised to see that Olsen disclosed Kerin's birth name,
although Karen is her legal name.
Even mainstream publications have
style guides for this situation - not disclosing transgender status unless
pertinent to the story, using pronouns of the person's identity and choice,
and not disclosing birth names for obvious reasons of privacy and respect.
To do so belittles the choice and hard work that goes into a name change
and serves to subtly (or not so subtly) dismiss that choice.
Thanks for taking more care in the
future.
Samuel Lurie
Transgender Training and Advocacy
Hinesburg
Paul Olsen responds: Style guidelines from the New York Times permit citing
"a person's transgender status only when it is pertinent and its
pertinence is clear to the reader."
As a candidate for public office who has
taken positions on issues impacting Vermont's GLBT community, I viewed
Ms. Kerin's gender identify as relevant to the story about her unsuccessful
campaign for Attorney General.
My apologies to any OITM readers who were
offended.
Closing Thoughts from the Office
Twenty-one years is a long time for a GLBT organization. I was recently
told that OITM is probably the oldest GLBT organization in Vermont,
something that I did not know as Patrick and I moved to Vermont in 2004.
Having served on the MPM Board of Directors
for 2.5 years and most recently during our troubled times as the first
full time employee, it has been a great honor and a wonderful experience
to work within and for our community.
I want to extend my appreciation and gratitude
to all of the MPM Board Members that I have worked with over the years,
and to our staff, volunteers, vendors and supporters that have made the
paper a reality for our readers.
I want to extend a special thanks to Euan
Bear, Michel DuBois, Don Eggert, EJ Haley, Tania Kupczak, Lynn McNicol,
Roland Palmer, Joe Swinyer, Greg Thompson and Bob Wolff for their effort
in making the last few months of OITM such a wonderful paper. It has been
fun working with everyone!
Let us celebrate the greatness of Out in
the Mountains and focus on our future as one community.
Greg Weaver
Executive Director
Mountain Pride Media, Inc., Publisher of Out in the Mountains