Justice for Dr V: Journalism Ethics and Transphobia

Storify is closing down. This is an archive of my post, Justice for Dr V: Journalism Ethics and Transphobia. First published on 20 January 2014.

Dr V (Dr Essay Anne Vanderbilt) is a transgender woman who invented a golf club. Journalist Caleb Hannan outed Dr V’s transgender identity even though he understood she did not want this to be revealed. She consequently died by suicide. These are my tweets showcasing the best articles on this story. #JusticeForDrV.

"Do not, as a writer, value your narrative over someone’s life." @MARIADAHVANA HT @DavidForbes http://t.co/C852jVlTYe #JusticeforDrV

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

Considering #transgender violence, suicide attempts & other ethical questions. @thinkprogress http://t.co/EaA425ERwg #JusticeForDrV

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

[TW suicide] Consequences of presenting #transgender identity as media spectacle. @Aoifeschatology http://t.co/BpEleLLSM5 #JusticeForDrV

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

"For now though he [@calebhannan] doesn't want to talk to reporters. He values his privacy." @VICE http://t.co/BCIGwlT5va #JusticeForDrV

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

@metacarpi @stuxnetsource Thanks for this! @calebhannan "failed to conduct any due diligence at all on the story." Lacks ethics & integrity.

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

@NewEnglandite @BattleSwarmBlog @MARIADAHVANA @DavidForbes This isn't PC. This is about journalism ethics. See also http://t.co/EaA425ERwg

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

@BattleSwarmBlog @calebhannan @NewEnglandite @MARIADAHVANA @DavidForbes "Sociopath"? Personality disorders = pathological clinical condition

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

@BattleSwarmBlog @calebhannan @NewEnglandite @MARIADAHVANA @DavidForbes Story gives no "sociopath" evidence on DrV. Only disregard for life

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

@warnerthuston Read the article I linked to? @calebhannan went against privacy agreement.Writes on DrV as transgender "oddity." #Transphobia

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

@Jazzizhep Who is "he" of "his mind"? @calebhannan made transgender the focus. Could have done the story differently. http://t.co/EaA425ERwg

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014

CisGender people withhold personal info yet their gender raises no added suspicion.Don't pass off #transphobia as journalism #JusticeForDrV

— Dr Zuleyka Zevallos (@OtherSociology) January 20, 2014