Talk:Brandon Teena

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Discussions on this page often lead to previous arguments being restated, especially about which pronouns to use for Teena. Please read recent comments and look in the archives before commenting on that topic, and read through the list of highlighted discussions below before starting a new one:

The subject of which pronouns to use for Teena has been discussed here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Per MOS:GENDERID, Teena should be referred to by the pronouns, possessive adjectives, and gendered nouns that reflect his gender self-identification as male.

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Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 16:12, 16 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

"anatomically female"

User @82.4.161.186: replaced "was anatomically female" with "had a vagina" with edit summary "To say that someone has female anatomy is transphobic. Teena was a man with a vagina". User @Philipnelson99: reverted with no explanation.

The IP user is correct that it is transphobic. I will add that terms like "anatomically female" or "biologically female" don't really make sense when applied to a trans body, and are needlessly vague when "had a vagina" is clear and concise. --Wickedterrier (talk) 03:16, 31 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I don't understand why the technically accurate term "anatomically female" would be considered transphobic. Can you point to a style guide or two to support that contention?- Mr X 🖋 03:18, 31 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure it is accurate though. People tend to have more than one piece of anatomy. Some people have boobs and a penis. Would such a person be "anatomically female" because they have boobs? Or "anatomically male" because they have a penis? "had a vagina" is completely unambiguous.

Here's a guide from HRC: https://www.hrc.org/resources/reporting-about-transgender-people-read-this

No. 7 mentions the term "biological" and "anatomical" is being used here in much the same way.

GLAAD mentions problems with the term too: https://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender --Wickedterrier (talk) 03:48, 31 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@MrX and Philipnelson99: I have to agree with Wickedterrier and the IP on this one. There's really nothing about genitalia that's "female" or "male", and "had a vagina" is unambiguous. However, the source doesn't actually say anything about Teena's genitalia: Grabbing Brandon, they unfastened his pants and pulled them down, demanding that Lana have a look. They wanted her to just admit that Brandon was a girl. According to her account, she shielded her eyes. They insisted, so she looked but said nothing. Perhaps it would be better to reword the sentence to During a Christmas Eve party, Nissen and Lotter grabbed Teena and forced him to remove his pants to show Tisdel his genitalia or somesuch? GorillaWarfare (talk) 14:32, 3 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I take your point GorillaWarfare and agree that your proposed wording would be an improvement.- Mr X 🖋 19:39, 4 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure HRC really applies for this. It wasn't really used to contrast trans with real men, only to the extent that mentioning being trans does. GLAAD only mentions anatomy as the way to determine sex, so in the meaning that there is a specific female anatomy.

It might be time to change it back after 5 years. 2A01:36D:118:C86F:61A7:135:644E:BBDF (talk) 11:36, 31 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Use of the name "Brandon Teena"

The article note of the Brandon Teena name stated it was "unclear" how often he used this name, though this is uncited.

Two other articles characterize "Brandon Teena" as a name he "never" used:

D'Erasmo, Stacey (October 1999). "Boy Interrupted". Out. 8 (4). Here Publishing: 66. ISSN 1062-7928.
Springer, Claudia (2013-05-17). James Dean Transfigured: The Many Faces of Rebel Iconography. University of Texas Press. p. 113. ISBN 9780292752887.

If other books/magazines/media contradict these statements, the article should cite them IMO. WhisperToMe (talk) 07:26, 22 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Name query

Note 1, right at the very beginning, says, "Other names may include his legal name, as well as 'Billy Brenson' and 'Teena Ray'", but under "other names" the infobox has "Billy Brinson". Presumably Brinson and Brenson are referring to the same name, but which spelling is correct? Alternatively, if both are, perhaps at least "Brinson" could be added to the note? Happy days, ~ Lindsay^Hello 19:41, 31 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]