Leftists pounced on the AP Stylebook for recommending that people avoid using the acronym “TERF,” which stands for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist.”
“Avoid the vague and politicized terms trans-exclusionary radical feminist or its acronym, TERF, and gender-critical to describe cisgender women or others who object to the inclusion of transgender women in women’s spaces. Instead, be specific about a person’s or group’s objections, and paraphrase quotations that use the terms unless needed for a compelling reason,” AP Stylebook tweeted.
But leftists tore into AP Stylebook for making the suggestion.
“This isn’t a style tip. It’s a politically-motivated transphobic wet-paper-towel mealy-mouthed stance. This is wrong, and it’s anti-queer, and cruel. Do better, AP. Right now,” one person tweeted.
“This is journalistic malpractice,” someone asserted.
“TERF is specific. It says exactly what it means. You are f****** cowards at best, and TERFs at worst. Literally trash. Glad that my editorial house doesn’t follow your style, and I will certainly not be taking advice from you any time soon,” someone else tweeted.
“‘TERF’ and ‘Gender Critical’ are concise, useful terms that describe a reactionary political bloc whose “objections” are based in transphobia and junk science. AP is laundering a hate movement’s reputation and giving it legitimacy it doesn’t deserve. Shameful,” someone tweeted.
“Pretty f***** up that @APStylebook is siding with literal fascists trying to literally kidnap and literally murder trans people rather than advise journalists use the literal descriptive term. Cowards!” someone wrote.
Cultural debate continues to rage over whether men who identify as women should be allowed to utilize faciltiies designated for females, such as women’s restrooms, and whether men who identify as women should be allowed to compete in women’s and girls’ sports.
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