In a decision rendered Wednesday, the Radio-Canada ombudsman ruled that the report Trans express of the show Investigation does not contravene the journalistic standards and practices of the state-owned company.
Dealing with the delicate issue of teenagers who regret having changed gender, this report had generated a lot of reactions when it was broadcast in February. The ombudsman says he has received about sixty complaints since then, notably from the Quebec LGBTQ+ Council and the University of Montreal.
In Trans express, Journalist Pasquale Turbide focuses on the still little-known phenomenon of “detransitions.” She presents the story of two teenage girls struggling with mental health issues who, after consulting professionals, came to the conclusion that the gender they had been assigned at birth was not theirs. After beginning medical treatment, they later expressed regret and reversed their decision. Their family deplores in the report that minors can begin a gender transition process so easily.
“Several complainants denounced the very existence of this report, believing that it focused on a marginal phenomenon and did more harm than good to members of the trans community,” said Radio-Canada ombudsman Pierre Champoux in his decision rendered Wednesday.
Among these plaintiffs were the Quebec LGBTQ+ Council and the University of Montreal, which came to the defense of one of its professors, Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, some of whose statements are called into question in the report. Their grievances were numerous, ranging from the choice of title to the music used, to the choice of experts cited. The report is essentially accused of lacking objectivity by mainly presenting the point of view of parents of children who have detransitioned.
“Balanced, impartial and accurate”
Ultimately, the ombudsman does not blame the teamInvestigation. “Depending on the angle chosen, it paints a portrait that seems to me to be balanced, impartial and accurate, given the angle of treatment, of a worrying situation. The subject is of real public interest and deserves to be addressed,” he concludes.
In his decision, Pierre Champoux acknowledges the sensitive nature of the subject, which some say opens the door to transphobia. But he maintains that the report was in the public interest. “The report Trans expressin my opinion, exposes some situations, raises legitimate questions and invites reflection. Would it have been better if the team ofInvestigation silence the testimonies of the young people and parents heard in the report?
“I am perfectly aware that this type of story delights individuals who are hostile to the LGBTQ+ community, but I cannot blame Radio-Canada for going ahead with its report despite the risk of misuse of meaning that the report has, it seems, been subject to since its broadcast,” he wrote.
“However worthy the cause”
According to him, the fact that Radio-Canada has adopted a policy to promote sexual diversity is not contradictory to the broadcast of this report. “This commitment by CBC/Radio-Canada, like its collaborations with various causes, must not prevent its journalists from exploring subjects that seem to be of public interest to them. It is crucial for Radio-Canada journalists to carry out their work free from influence, no matter how laudable the cause,” said Pierre Champoux.
The host ofInvestigationMarie-Maude Denis, also noted this passage in a short Facebook post, where she reacted positively to the decision made by the ombudsman, inviting “all those interested in journalism” to go and read it.