A couple of years ago,during political coverage, on my political programming, my background became part of the story, became part of a campaign tool against a couple of my subjects—both Democrat and Republican—for sitting down with me…
Once in a while, I may be asked to identify myself and make a statement in a certain way. I think that would undermine the meaning of my work, not just for my work’s sake, but for the very reason they’re wanting to identify me as a transgender broadcaster. If I were to make political statements, then that undermines my credibility as a journalist…
I’m a journalist first—people are tuning in to watch my program not because I’m talking exclusively about LGBT issues, but all sorts of things. For me to step up and try to be a political figure would undermine that work and really rob us all of a chance to have a different kind of example available.”
Eden Lane, the first openly trans newsperson in mainstream broadcasting and host of Colorado Public Television’s In Focus with Eden Lane, discussing why she avoids being perceived as a political activist, with HuffPo’s Michelangelo Signorile.
Ashley
um, well, can we at least ask you to have the group you belong to, NLGJA, to be responsible and accurate and choose a name change that is actually inclusive of the ‘B’ and the ‘T”? As journalists we must strive for affirming education and accuracy