Media outlets issue corrections for using 'wrong' pronouns in coverage of Minneapolis church shooter
New York Times
In its Aug. 27 report, The New York Times, one of the oldest national daily newspapers in the United States, used several female terms to identify Westman.
Despite repeatedly sourcing law enforcement officials, the report appeared to sidestep the nation's top law enforcement agency's identification of Westman as a biological male.
Starting with its headline "Minneapolis Suspect Knew Her Target, but Motive Is a Mystery," the report referred to Westman as "her," "she" and "Ms. Westman."
The Times also compared what it called the "right-wing uproar" of the gunman's gender identity to the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, which the newspaper said was "carried out by a former student whom the police said was transgender."
Audrey Hale, who killed six people in the 2023 shooting, referred to Jesus with a homosexual slur and mocked those who would pray for their children because, Hale wrote, "I will try to kill all your kids."
While Hale "gender identified as a male and used he/him as preferred pronouns," a police investigation report stated that Hale "openly identified as lesbian" and described Hale as "a biological female at the time of her death."
CP reached out to The Times on Tuesday for comment. This story will be updated if a response is received.
