Written By: Bill Browning
The transgender community is being more than marginalized, they are being hung over a cliff by their fingernails, and the Falun Gong and Epoch Times are stepping on their fingers.
Tony Babcock, a well-known gay actor has been a proud advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in general and transgender rights in particular. He uses his status and platform to argue for equality. “Sadly, we’ve seen some fringe media outlets turn their attention to this hot-button issue, exploiting it for clicks and catering to an audience far outside of mainstream thinking. It’s a reminder of the work that still lies ahead in fostering understanding and empathy. “
He continued, “But let’s not forget that the majority of Americans stand firmly with the LGBTQ+ community. According to surveys, a significant and growing number of Americans support equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals. In recent years, the approval rating for same-sex marriage has reached an all-time high, with over 70% of Americans in favour.”
Picking up on a popular right-wing agenda, the Falun Gong and its affiliated media outlets such as the Epoch Times and NTD (New Tang Dynasty), a New York City-based TV station, have been stoking anti-transgender sentiment in line with Republican state legislators who have inundated the legislative landscape with a slew of laws aiming to control the lives of transgender individuals. These laws restrict their participation in sports, dictate restroom usage, and limit access to medical care. Moreover, there are plans for further legislation that could exacerbate the marginalization and demonization of this community.
This hostile legislative environment fosters a growing sense of security for those who seek to harm, injure, or even kill transgender individuals, while right-wing media outlets with anti-transgender agendas have seized this opportunity to disseminate divisive rhetoric, emboldening prejudice and further promoting anti-transgender hate.
A glaring example of The Epoch Times’ stance on transgender issues can be found in its coverage of the MISS NTD Beauty Pageant that is sponsored by NTD. The pageant explicitly mandates that contestants must be “natural-born females,” a policy that has drawn vehement criticism from transgender advocates who assert it perpetuates discrimination and harmful stereotypes. Nevertheless, The Epoch Times has chosen to defend the pageant, claiming that it upholds “traditional values.”
In a recent 2023 article, The Epoch Times commended the pageant for celebrating what it termed “ancient values” and for promoting “traditional femininity.” Pageant director Jenny Sun was quoted in the article, stating that the event was “not about discriminating against anyone” but rather about celebrating “the natural beauty of women.” Critics argue that this endorsement of the MISS NTD Beauty Pageant is just one facet of The Epoch Times’ broader anti-transgender stance.
The publication has faced accusations of disseminating articles that propagate negative stereotypes concerning transgender individuals. For example, a 2019 article in The Epoch Times suggested that transgender individuals were more prone to engage in criminal activities, a claim that is both unfounded and harmful. In reality, transgender individuals are over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime, according to research published in the American Journal of Public Health. Spreading such misinformation can contribute to hate crimes and discrimination against this marginalized group.
Furthermore, The Epoch Times has produced an original documentary film titled “Gender Transformation: The Untold Realities,” which purports to debunk the authenticity of transgender experiences. The documentary portrays parents, politicians, and educators as proponents of what it calls “pro-transgender indoctrination,” a claim widely discredited by experts in the field. Critics argue that the film is riddled with inaccuracies and biases and portrays transgender individuals in a negative light. It spreads the baseless belief that transgender individuals suffer from mental illness and pose a threat to society.
The Epoch Times’ anti-transgender agenda is particularly concerning given the existing discrimination and violence that transgender individuals often face in society. In the United States, transgender individuals are disproportionately more likely to experience unemployment, homelessness, and violence compared to the general population. The Human Rights Campaign reported that at least 46 transgender or gender non-conforming individuals were killed in the United States in 2022, marking a record high. This violence disproportionately affects Black and Latina transgender women.
Critics argue that The Epoch Times’ rhetoric against transgender individuals contributes to the normalization of discrimination and violence against this vulnerable group. It is imperative to condemn media outlets like The Epoch Times that choose to propagate anti-transgender sentiment and to call for responsible and unbiased reporting on issues of gender identity and transgender rights. The ongoing controversy surrounding The Epoch Times’ stance on transgender issues underscores the importance of vigilant media scrutiny and responsible journalism in today’s society.
While some may perceive these issues as trivial, the consequences of allowing this trajectory to continue are profound, akin to leaving an entire group of humans hanging off a cliff. Advocates of a fair and inclusive humanity should be deeply concerned. Trans rights are human rights and in a fair and open society an attack on one group is an attack on all.
