From Pandagon, the story of a transwoman who apparently has pissed off some transphobes (I know!):
After working as an officer for Houston Police Department for 24 years, Sgt. Jack Oliver is used to injuries on the job. However, after a police chase about a month ago, Oliver realized that receiving medical help for any wounds would reveal his long-held secret.
So at a news conference Friday, Oliver announced he has been receiving medical treatment to undergo sex reassignment surgery.
“I’ve been wrestling with it (sex reassignment surgery) for seven years,” said Oliver, the 49-year-old deputy day sergeant at the Fondren substation.
The article talks about the reaction to Oliver’s announcement, and gives Oliver and coworkers some space to talk about how they feel about all this. They’re supportive, which is wonderful. The Houston Chronicle was also generous enough to give space to someone whose connection seems tangential at best. Is he a transsexual? Has he been fired for being transsexual or fired someone else for being transsexual? Has he filed or defended against a lawsuit on behalf of a fired transsexual? Has he written anti-employment-discrimination legislation for transsexuals? Is he is in a position to do so? Is he a medical or psychiatric professional? Does he know Oliver? Does he know any transsexuals?
None of the above! He just hates us.
However, at least one local pastor feels differently.
David Welch, executive director of Houston Area Pastors Council, said he thinks Oliver’s decision to have the operation raises questions about his capability as a police officer.
“That would raise issues of competency in the line of duty in my mind,” Welch said.
Care to elaborate? No? Okay, then.
A couple of letter-writers thought it was as relevant as I do, thankfully. Good for Houston.
I think my favorite thing is the description of what Welch said, right before the quote – using almost identical words. So not only is the guy totally irrelevant to the issue at hand, but basically he said a whole lot of nothing.
j swift, executive director of the It’s None of Your Fucking Business Council, said he thinks David Welch’s decision to open his mouth without thinking raises questions about his capability as a pastor.
“That would raise issues of competency in acting like a Christian in my mind, “j swift said.
I’m torn as to which is more … odd, that anyone should feel this way or that anyone should care that someone feels this way. This is getting coverage because it’s something that never happened before, right? Not because Oliver issued a press release urging all Texas cops to undergo gender reassignment? Because if it was the second one I can understand why that might warrant a response.
My response would be, that’s probably at least as useful as whatever they’re currently doing with their time.
I think it has to do with a larger problem with the media’s understanding of balanced reporting. If you don’t report “both sides” of an issue, your article is biased. But thinking about fair and unbiased reporting isn’t that simple. It assumes, for instance, that there are only two sides to a problem or that “the other side” should always be included no matter how unreliable the source or how bizarre the argument. In this case, the inclusion of the minister’s words shows what unnuanced “issue” the reporter thinks this story is about.