Every Progressive Presidential Campaign Has Deadnamed Me

Rori Porter
8 min readFeb 5, 2020

This is something the DNC could fix today

Before I jump into this essay, it seems appropriate to define “deadname” for those uninitiated. The word “deadname” typically refers to a trans person’s birth name. You may wonder why such a dramatic term is necessary, but “you just birth-named me” doesn’t correctly stress the offense and impact of being deadnamed for a trans person. I tend to refer to my birth name as just that — my birth name. That said, when someone else uses my birth name, it becomes my deadname. Birth name is my choice…

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Rori Porter

Queer Transfemme writer & designer based out of Los Angeles. She/Her/They/Their. Editor of TransFoc.us Anthology. RoriPorter.com