This headline/article really upset me: http://www.bostonherald.com//news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1171714.
It's about the MBTA driver who caused a crash by texting (obviously a dumb move on his part, no one would say otherwise). The headline is "Driver applied for job under different name; Has checkered driving history" implying that his name change is related to overall sketchiness and irresponsibility. However, if you read the article, it appears that he changed his name as part of his transition. It has nothing to do with his driving history or the crash.
This is obvious baiting for homophobic comments and hysteria and is SUCH irresponsible journalism. Write the Herald and tell them this sort of sensationalist reporting is irresponsible and will not be tolerated: http://www.bostonherald.com/about/contact/
(Thanks for the heads up, LL)
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Friends (thanks LL and CD) have pointed out that both Fox and ABC have similar articles - here are the links in case you want to write them as well:
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/051109_New_details_emerge_about_Quinn
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=7561561&page=1
It's hard to say what's worse--replicating the all-too-familiar deceit narrative (oooh! He tried to trick 'em by applying under what was probably his legal name at the time!), or letting the guy's gender identity take precedence over the fact that he did something dumb and crashed a trolley.
I almost prefer "Driver applied for job under different name" (Herald) over "Texting Trolley Driver Is Transgendered" (ABC). Seriously, ABC, that's your headline?
What I wrote, in case anyone was curious. I'm a little heated, so it might not be entirely coherent...Next up, a letter to ABC and one to Fox...
To: letterstoeditor@bostonherald.com
Your recent article, titled "Driver applied for job under different name; Has checkered driving history" was sensationalist and irresponsible reporting. The headline implied that Mr. Quinn's name change bore any relation to his driving history or suitability as an MBTA employee. However, reading on in the article it becomes clear that Mr. Quinn's name change was part of an entirely unrelated and 100% legal process of transitioning gender. The misleading headline and inclusion of this personal information that has no bearing on the accident are blatant attempts at baiting homophobic comments and drawing personal attacks on Mr. Quinn that are unrelated to the crash.
This is irreponsible journalism and should not be tolerated. I, for one, am disgusted.
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