Apology not accepted

Between violence in Charlottesville and a headline calling me, a trans person, “neither normal nor acceptable,” I felt gut-punched last weekend. The red herrings contained in Editor Rob Curley’s milquetoast and inadequate apology made matters worse.

Mr. Curley invoked the First Amendment: “When you work in this field, and especially in this country, you cherish the First Amendment.” But the First Amendment, which states, “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech,” is not at issue here. Your publication is privately owned. Do not hide behind restrictions on the government. It’s misleading at best and cowardly at worst.

Next he spoke to the value of “context,” citing the “mirror” held up to society by a bigoted preacher with “God Hates Fags” signs. Is Mr. Curley intentionally comparing his editorial decision with a willful act of anti-queer aggression?

Finally, he mentioned Charlottesville (for no apparent reason) and himself on the back for being “mature” enough to apologize and learn from his mistakes. He bemoaned a “missed opportunity” to leverage a “teaching moment” without ever confronting the trauma to which he casually exposed an unknown number of trans people.

I do not accept his apology.

Jac Archer

Spokane