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The AP Style Redefines Sex in New Transgender-Inclusive Wording

Photo by Brett Jordan via Unsplash’

The AP Style Redefines Sex in New Transgender-Inclusive Wording

By Movieguide® Staff

While the AP Style Guide was the gold standard for wording among journalists since 1953, new guidance on transgender issues could mean sacrificing truth for inclusion and “unbiased language.”

If journalists want to abide by AP guidelines, they need to adopt their specific definitions.

Don Irvine of Accuracy in Media notes: “We have to now create and craft this language so we don’t hurt or offend anybody. But we give the other side the advantage [when we do that]. They get the leg up on all of this now.”

Here are some examples from the AP’s Transgender Coverage Topical Guide:

“Gender” refers to internal and social identity and often corresponds with but is not synonymous with sex. Experts say “gender” is a spectrum, not a “binary” structure consisting of only males and females, that can vary by society and change over time.

“Sex” refers to biological characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive anatomy.

Since not all people fall under one of two categories for “sex” or “gender” – as in the cases of “nonbinary” and “intersex” people – avoid references to “both,” “either” or “opposite sexes” or “genders.”

Use the term “sex (or gender) assigned at birth” instead of “biological sex,” “birth gender,” “was identified at birth as,” “born a girl” and the like.

Don’t refer in interviews or stories to “preferred” or “chosen” pronouns. Instead, “the pronouns they use,” “whose pronouns are,” “who uses the pronouns,” etc.

Irvine added that by changing the definitions of words, the media is changing the perception of reality.

“If you change what the definition of the group is to something that is less offensive or at least encouraging, it’s a different perception,” Irvine tol AFN. “I mean, for people, perception is reality.”

However, the changes to word’s meanings are not only taking place in the journalistic world. Recently, the Merriam-Webster dictionary changed its definition of “male” and “female.”

“There’s nothing more Orwellian than redefining words for political purposes,” Accuracy in Media wrote. “Merriam-Webster might think that gender is fluid, but facts and definitions should not be fluid.”

But by what standard? As the world continues to try to redefine reality through the manipulation of the written word, it is important to look to the ultimate truth found in God’s word.

In Genesis, God establishes not only the physical attributes of “male” and “female,” but their purpose on earth.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

– Genesis 1:26-27

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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.