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TV Anchor Expertly Schools Two Transphobes Who Ask Why They Can't Deadname Elliot Page
Olayemi Olurin, who anchors Rising, a daily news and opinion web series produced by The Hill, called out two politicial commentators for using Elliot Page's deadname on the program, an action she rather succintly explained is transphobic.
After the commentators, journalist and author Robby Soave and radio host Kim Iverson, questioned why they weren’t “allowed” to deadname Page in a public forum, Olurin shared footage of their remarks with her Twitter followers.
Soave and Iverson also complained being expected to call Page what he wants to be called is confusing, akin to pretending the years he presented as female "didn't exist."
Olurin noted referring to Page "or any other trans person by their dead names" is wrong, adding it does not cost anyone "anything to simply respect people's personhoods and call them the name they tell us to."
\u201cDo not call Elliot Page or any other trans person by their dead names. It doesn\u2019t cost us anything to simply respect peoples personhoods and call them the name they tell us to.\u201d— Olayemi Olurin (@Olayemi Olurin) 1657148709
Deadnaming is the act of referring to a transgender or non-binary person by a name they used prior to transitioning, such as their birth name. Deadnaming may be accidental, or an intentional attempt to deny, mock or invalidate a person's identity.
Like misgendering, deadnaming can be a form of overt aggression or a microaggression, indicating the target is not fully accepted as a member of society. Transgender activists have opposed the deadnaming of homicide victims and high-profile celebrities in media, saying it violates an individual's right to privacy while contributing to transphobia.
Many concurred with Olurin's assessment and applauded her for speaking out.
\u201cThe fact that this discussion never happened for Elton John, Bruno Mars, Reese Witherspoon, Brad Pitt and so many other celebs but it happens for Elliot is just classic transphobia.\u201d— Sash (@Sash) 1657227855
\u201cThe entitlement here is astounding. Acting like not being allowed to deadname a trans person is depriving them of something they need. Smiling smugly as they pretend once again that their rights are being infringed upon because they can\u2019t offend someone without consequences. \ud83d\udd95\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udd95\ud83c\udffe\u201d— Darryl Stephens (@Darryl Stephens) 1657231249
\u201cThe wildest thing is how cis people are acting like the mere act of saying Elliot Page's deadname was the issue.\n\nNo.\n\nIt wasn't.\n\nJordan B Peterson - completely unprovoked - posted hateful garbage about him. He was asked to delete that tweet and then said more hateful garbage.\u201d— mearse little beans (@mearse little beans) 1657234568
\u201cHonestly. It doesn\u2019t make you weak to simply refer to people how they prefer. It doesn\u2019t have to be an acquiescence. It\u2019s just courtesy.\u201d— i. will. not. lose. ever. fucker. (@i. will. not. lose. ever. fucker.) 1657245158
\u201cIdk how she held her own because I would have lost my mind. I would have had words for him when the cameras went off.\u201d— \ud835\udc6f\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc89 - \ud835\udc13\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc1d\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2b \ud835\udc16\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc20\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc1e\ud83c\udf57 (@\ud835\udc6f\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc8f\ud835\udc82\ud835\udc89 - \ud835\udc13\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc1d\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2b \ud835\udc16\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc20\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc2d\ud835\udc1e\ud83c\udf57) 1657300901
\u201c"Go forth smartly" is an amazing quote, that woman owns\u201d— Calamari Comeback Kid (@Calamari Comeback Kid) 1657301639
\u201cI don\u2019t understand why this is hard. In elementary school I went by Katie Ann. I don\u2019t want to be called that anymore and if someone insisted on calling me that despite my saying \u201cplease call me Kate,\u201d it would be disrespectful. Cis people do this all the time.\u201d— Kate \u201cDo Something\u201d Willett (@Kate \u201cDo Something\u201d Willett) 1657219082
\u201cAll these people know not to or TO call married women by their "new" names when they get married or divorced and YET...\u201d— Leslie Mac (@Leslie Mac) 1657217570
\u201cThank you @msolurin for attempting to school @robbysoave and @KimIversenShow on @HillTVLive about how to behave like human beings. Despite their selfish attitude and claims they aren't "allowed" to deadname us, you spoke eloquently and firmly, to no avail. Sigh.\u201d— Dawn Ennis (She/Her/Hers) (@Dawn Ennis (She/Her/Hers)) 1657215128
Page, the Oscar-nominated actor of Juno who currently stars as Viktor Hargeeves on Netflix's The Umbrella Academy, came out as transgender in December 2020. A few months later, he gave a widely publicized interview to Time, becoming the first openly trans man to appear on the cover of the magazine.
During the interview, Page identified himself as queer and nonbinary (his pronouns are he/they). He recalled that he had "felt like a boy" as early as age nine, he "wanted to be a boy. I would ask my mom if I could be someday."
Page is also an activist, regularly aligning himself with LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights causes.