1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to reject anti-transgender disinformation and stand firm in protecting the rights of transgender people in our community. Recent revelations from inside major media institutions demonstrate how a small group of powerful individuals can systematically spread harmful narratives that endanger vulnerable populations. Billie Jean Sweeney, a former New York Times editor who worked at the paper for over 11 years until mid-2024, has provided detailed testimony about how the Times' leadership deliberately shifted toward promoting anti-trans coverage starting in Spring 2022. According to Sweeney, publisher A.G. Sulzberger, executive editor Joe Kahn, and managing editor Carolyn Ryan directed a coordinated campaign of stories designed to challenge every aspect of trans existence, from medical science to gender-inclusive language. This wasn't organic journalism but a political project directed from the top. The consequences of this campaign are real. When the controversial Cass review was published in April 2024, Times editors reassigned a balanced story to a reporter who had written most of their anti-trans coverage, resulting in a piece that falsely portrayed a European trend restricting trans healthcare while ignoring contradictory reports from France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Utah. The Utah report specifically found that gender-affirming care has sound scientific basis, yet this evidence was buried. This pattern of disinformation has real-world impact on transgender youth and families in your district. When influential institutions legitimize medical falsehoods and frame trans existence as inherently controversial, they provide cover for policies that deny healthcare, restrict civil rights, and increase discrimination. The Times still employs no trans journalists covering trans news in their newsroom, ensuring these stories lack authentic perspective. I ask you to base your policy decisions on sound medical evidence and the principle that all constituents deserve equal protection under the law. Reject narratives driven by a loud minority of powerful voices and instead listen to medical professionals, transgender people themselves, and the broader community that supports equality and dignity for all.