Trans Stars Want Their Birth Names To Stop Being Published

A coalition of Hollywood workers and gay rights advocates are calling on the industry website IMDb to stop publishing the birth names of transgender performers and others without their consent, a practice known as “deadnaming” that detractors say perpetuates discrimination.

"To reveal a transgender person’s birth name without their explicit permission is an invasion of privacy that only serves to undermine the trans person’s true authentic identity, and can put them at risk for discrimination, even violence,” says Nick Adams, director of transgender representation at Glaad, the organization that tracks media representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The actors’ union is mounting the legal challenge joined by Glaad and other advocacy groups.

Photo: Getty


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