Last week, GLAAD and members of New York’s trans community met with editors and staff members at the New York Times for a very frank, off-the-record discussion about issues that uniquely affect trans people.

The meeting stemmed from a discussion that intensified several months ago, after GLAAD and other trans advocates spoke out against a story about a Lorena Escalera, a transgender woman who died in a fire, as well as a story about young trans women on Christopher Street. After these articles ran, the trans community and allies called on the New York Times to improve its coverage. The New York Times agreed to meet and discuss coverage of trans issues and future story ideas.

Research shows that around three quarters of Americans personally know someone who is gay, lesbian or bisexual, but less than 10% know someone who is transgender. This means that most Americans can weigh firsthand knowledge when considering media coverage that treats the LGB community insensitively. But the vast majority of Americans have no personal connection to someone who is trans, so they rely solely on the media for information.

"The media plays a crucial role in educating the public about what it means to be transgender in America today," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "By meeting with members of the trans community, the New York Times showed that it takes this responsibility seriously. This dialogue is an important first step toward improved coverage of the trans community."

GLAAD urges you to continue to report incidents of problematic media coverage to us.