The Wall Street Journal reported that 33 
Fox News Swapped Out AP, Reuters’ Use of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Outdated Terms.
In an abhorrent bid to further its demonization of trans people and the medical professionals who provide medically necessary care, Fox News’ website is altering articles from The Associated Press and Reuters to replace the phrase “gender-affirming care” with the terms “sex change” or “sex reassignment” — phrases that the AP, trans journalists, and LGBTQ rights advocates deem outdated — and frequently removing or replacing references to “care” or “medical care.”
In one of the most recent examples, Fox fabricated a quote from an Oregon state senator, putting words in the mouth of an elected official. In changing the text of AP articles without disclosing the edits to its readers, Fox News is obscuring the true impact of legislation that removes a broad range of lifesaving treatment options for trans youth.
Both the AP and Reuters confirmed that altering their content to change the meaning or accuracy of the reporting violates their rules. A spokesperson for AP told Media Matters, “Customers have the ability to adjust AP headlines and stories as long as the changes do not impact the accuracy or facts of the AP journalism.” Additionally, the news organization confirmed that “quotes are not to be altered, in keeping with AP standards.”
A spokesperson for Reuters wrote, “The editorial meaning of Reuters content cannot be altered or distorted by our clients. Reuters is fully committed to covering all matters, including LGBTQIA+ issues, impartially and accurately, in keeping with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.”
FoxNews.com has frequently replaced accurate terminology in the headlines of AP articles, changing terms like “gender-affirming care” to read “sex change,” or changing a headline describing a bill restricting “trans youth care” to instead frame it as a “youth sex change” ban.
However, starting with an AP article it reposted on April 27, Fox News seemingly began altering the text in the body of the wire services’ articles as well, replacing “gender-affirming” with either the terms “sex change” or “sex reassignment.” In total, over the last two months, Fox News has altered at least 18 articles from the AP and one from Reuters on anti-trans legislation that are credited exclusively to the respective outlets. No notes or citations are made clarifying any changes to the text credited to the AP or Reuters.
The changes are in-line with a right-wing strategy targeting language used by LGBTQ and medical professionals
Gender-affirming care is a broad term that encompasses an array of essential services for trans and nonbinary people that can include both medical care — such as therapy and medication — as well as nonmedical services, like changing the way you dress or what pronouns you use.
While the terms “sex change” and “sex reassignment” represent outdated language, correct terminology has also drawn conservative ire. The right has maligned the term “gender-affirming care” as part of its propagandizing efforts to deny the existence and humanity of trans and nonbinary people.
Following far-right backlash to Fox News’ firing of host Tucker Carlson last month, right-wing online outlet The Daily Signal castigated the cable network for its occasional “use of activist language like ‘gender affirming care’ in stories on its website, as well as the site’s consistent use of female pronouns for biological males.” Last year, Fox News’ Laura Ingraham similarly called on people to stop using the term, claiming it was a “misleading euphemism.”
The medical professionals providing gender-affirming care, and who overwhelmingly support trans youth’s access to care, do not share that sentiment.
Neither does the AP itself, which last year released a topical guide as part of an update to its AP Stylebook — an important reference tool used by many media outlets. The guide provided direction on how to accurately report on issues relating to trans people and instructed journalists not to use outdated terms, singling out “sex change” as one to avoid. Right-wing media responded to the changes with characteristic outrage.
Changes to language are possibly intended to mislead Fox News’ audience
Conservative attacks on gender-affirming care often focus attention on gender-affirming surgeries, which both have an extremely low rate of regret and are rarely an option for those under 18. Despite this, proponents of the record number of anti-trans bills introduced in state legislatures this year often focus their rhetoric targeting gender-affirming care on surgery — despite those same bills frequently including write-outs allowing for doctors to perform non-consensual surgeries on intersex youth.
This attempt to sow confusion around the types of care under attack by right-wing media and politicians is also similar to Fox News’ changes to AP content.
The Pulse of Washington D.C.
