Lynn Conway, who died Sunday at 85, was a leader in the development of personal computers and microprocessor technology, and a symbol for generations of transgender individuals.

I have mixed feelings on the pronoun use, but having read some of her autobiographical writing I don’t think she would have taken much issue with it. This piece is more focused on her work in computer engineering, so I felt it was appropriate to post here.

  • rand_alpha19@moist.catsweat.com
    1·
    6 months ago

    Trans person here. I vehemently disagree and would find this treatment exceptionally disrespectful.

    I transitioned at 17 though; referring to someone who transitioned later in life can be somewhat different.

    • Jackthelad@lemmy.worldEnglish
      02·
      6 months ago

      Why though? You were that gender, and then you transitioned to what you are now.

      Just because you weren’t happy as your birth gender doesn’t mean that it didn’t exist.

      • rand_alpha19@moist.catsweat.com
        1·
        6 months ago

        Just because other people saw me as a certain gender doesn’t mean I actually was, especially not when it comes to my sense of self.

        I’m not trying to erase something that existed, I’m asking my family to reframe my childhood from the way they saw it to the way I actually experienced it. They’re empathetic and they love me, so they do me that service.

        I would ask a reporter attempting to cover my life story to do so in a way that’s consistent with how I want my life to be portrayed. Seems like basic respect.