Well, I've got to take my hat off to them...
A short while ago, quite a bit of anger errupted from both the transgendered and non-transgendered members of the Hourou Musuko commmunity over the wording used to refer to a transgender character in the blurb of the recently released english edition of the second volume. The blurb, which is talking about a transgender woman, Yuki, whom the two main characters befriend in this volume, goes as follows:
'The “woman” who showed so much interest in Yoshino (when she was wear- ing a boy’s school uniform) in Volume One reappears with “her” boyfriend, and becomes a mentor and friend to the two children.'
People were angered by the use of of the pointed qoutation marks when describing Yuki's gender, which some people refered to as 'scare qoutes'. This was for a number of reasons. The main reason was that a lot of people took offense to the use of qoutation marks when describing Yuki's gender. And while I can understand how they may be used to discern the difference between biological women and transgender women, if so, gender-qoutation marks only needed to be used once. But they weren't. They were used not once, but every time her gender came up, with equal emphasis. Because, fact is, yes, she was born male, and is biologically male, but she identifies as female, and lives as female, as is treated as female within the series. So to use qoutation marks when describing her gender is just.......rude. And insulting. Not just to the character, but to trans men and women in general. In any other context I would find it's use almost mocking. Then of course, there was the 'scare' usage of the qoutation marks. Reading that blurb I was almost thinking 'Shit, Nitori - run!!'. And while I know as much as to know that this wasn't how it was intended and there was nothing outwardly transphobic about it in this nature, even without this, the *wink*wink* quality was still very derogatory. It almost makes the nature of Yuki's gender sound like a comedic ploy.
I've got to say that my main response to this was disapointment. Fantagraphics had handled the translation and production of the english edition of Hourou Musuko so sensitively before, so to see this surprised and disapointed me.
However, one person who took offense to the wording and use of qoutation marks in the blurb wrote an email to Fantagraphics production team, stating that she found the wording and use of qoutation marks of the description offensive, an exactly why she did so. I can't say I expected much at all. What I expected was a patronising, insincire 'apology', either explaining why the use of quotation marks 'wasn't' offensive, or simply skirting over the issue itself altogether. And that's if they got a response at all. However, the person did receive a response, from both the marketing director and publicity director. And this what the publicity director, Jacquelene Cohen, had to say:
'I hope that this mistake doesn't ruin your enjoyment for this series and please don't hold it against our company that someone made a terrible call. They are not bad people, just a little uninformed. I take responsibility for not educating my officemates. I assure you, this will not happen again in any capacity. I am going to have a company meeting about queer and transgender awareness/sensitivity. Also, from now on, I will be sure to check over all outgoing information about this and forthcoming books that have queer and/or transgendered characters. Please realize that we are taking this matter seriously and that action will be taken to prevent errors like this from happening again.'
More than just admitting that the wording used on the blurb was offensive, and that the publishing house was in the wrong, they have actually organised transgender awareness meetings for all staff in response to this, and are taking direct and serious actions in response to the complaints. More than just apologising, and even admitting they were wrong, they are actually planning to educate their staff on transgender awareness and sensitivity in response to the complaints, and to prevent offensive errors of wording occuring in the future. This is honestly the first time I have ever seen anyone, whether they be an author, publisher, or filmaker, unprompted and genuinely admitting to their actions being offensive and them being in the wrong. Ever. And certainly the first time I have ever seen direct action being taken in response to a complaint. Well, I've got to say I take my hats off to them :). I'm pretty impressed, and whatever respect I lost in them following this has definitely been restored.