The groundbreaking report by Dr. Hilary Cass to England’s National Health Service on gender identity services for children and young people has made shockwaves across the transgender activist movement — including in the United States. The report headlined every major newspaper in the UK on April 10th for its finding that there is “no reliable evidence that the benefits of drug treatments for children who identify as transgender outweighed their harms.” Multiple news outlets put out editorials in response, including the New York Times.

The report is decimating and should force a seismic shift on advocates of gender identity policies. The report indicates sex-change hormones and surgeries for minors are not safe. Yet NPR, an outlet which has reported ad nauseam about so-called “gender-affirming care” for “trans youth” while ignoring any genuine concerns, has suddenly gone mysteriously dark on the issue.

For too long journalists have been beholden to activist groups such as the Trans Journalists Association (TJA), representing an extreme minority on gender identity issues. These organizations have demanded total ideological adherence in complete disregard for the ethics of journalism that NPR claims to uphold.

For example, The Society for Professional Journalists states  in their code of ethics  that journalists should “Support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.“ In contrast, the TJA demands journalists avoid “giving a platform to” certain groups who oppose their ideology such as “so-called gender critical feminists.”

There is no question which standard NPR has overwhelmingly upheld for the past decade.

Now, an NPR veteran journalist of 25 years has revealed why coverage has been so one-sided. Identity group committees are driving the coverage, and political diversity has been non-existent at NPR for years. It’s no wonder Americans no longer trust NPR.

This is a moment of reckoning, a serious wake up call for NPR and journalists across the United States. The past decade of sex reality denialism will be looked back on by historians as a mass hysteria on par with the witch trials and satanic panic. Will NPR journalists wait until the fad of gender identity has passed before returning to serious journalism on the issue? Is this how NPR creates a “more informed public, one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding”?

NPR is National Public Radio. It was meant to be by the people, for the people. Not for a narrow one-sided point of view. Now is the time for a return to the guiding ethics of impartiality, honesty, independence, fairness, and accuracy that NPR claims to uphold.

We demand the following:

1. Fair and unbiased coverage of the Cass Review

2. An internal audit of past NPR reporting on gender identity specifically in regards to journalistic bias and lack of honest or fair coverage for gender critical thought, with a report on the audit to be made public

3. A new policy put in place for future gender identity coverage to reduce any further harm perpetuated by NPR.

4. An apology to feminists, women and girls, and children and parents harmed by the one-sided pushing of Gender Ideology.

For resources for journalists, please see the WoLF Media Style Guide

The WoLF Media Style Guide provides an alternative to popular guidance that pushes unethical or confusing language related to women’s rights, such as that put forth by the Trans Journalists Association which was adopted by the Society for Professional Journalists.  

The WoLF Media Style Guide provides a more accurate and ethical way to report on issues that impact women and girls. The guidelines reflect a scientific understanding of concepts like sex and gender, are informed by a feminist perspective, and adhere to the strictest principles of journalism ethics including “truth and accuracy,” “fairness and impartiality,” and “humanity.” 

Take Action! Send this Open Letter To NPR!

Write to NPR’s Public Editor, Kelly McBride; and President and CEO, Katherine Maher, expressing your support for our demands.