In a reflective piece, Julia Malott, who identifies as transgender, addresses the media's coverage of a mass shooting that recently occurred in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The incident led to nine fatalities, including that of the shooter. Malott emphasizes that while the facts of the tragedy should remain paramount, attempts to downplay or omit the shooter's transgender identity only serve to sensationalize the event and obscure the realities faced by transgender individuals.

Malott argues against treating the term 'trans' as taboo while describing the shooter as simply 'female.' She posits that this dichotomy promotes harmful stereotypes and neglects the complexities of transgender identity. By framing the issue through a cultural lens, the media risks alienating those who identify as transgender and perpetuating societal misunderstandings about their existence and struggles.

The author calls for a more nuanced and responsible approach to reporting that neither hides nor sensationalizes gender identity. By doing so, she advocates for better understanding and acceptance of the transgender community, especially in the wake of tragedies that are often co-opted into broader cultural debates.