Military pilot Jo Ellis said she had to hire private armed security for her family because of the false claims, which went viral on social media.

Military pilot Jo Ellis said she had to hire private armed security for her family because of the false claims, which went viral on social media.

A transgender military pilot filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday against a conservative influencer who falsely claimed on social media that she was flying the helicopter that collided with a commercial jet near Reagan National Airport in January, killing 67 people.

“I want to hold this person accountable for what they did to me,” Jo Ellis, a pilot who has served more than 15 years in the Virginia Army National Guard, said in a statement to NBC News. “It’s become too common that people can say horrible things about someone, profit at their expense, and get away with it.”

On Jan. 30, less than 24 hours after the crash, conservative influencer Matt Wallace, who has 2.2 million followers on the social media platform X, shared a post from another account he operates stating that the helicopter pilot was transgender, according to the lawsuit. Wallace included a photo of Ellis, and the post went viral, the lawsuit states.

  • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
    86·
    2 days ago

    they/them when referring to me is perfectly acceptable

    Thank you for stating your own personal preference. I’ll try to make a note of it.

    But … is that automatically anyone else’s preference? My friend Sandra prefers she/her, and rejects the they/them as it’s apparently confusing.

    I’d ask the two of you to figure it out but its not my business.

    • Damage@feddit.it
      9·
      2 days ago

      Yeah as you can see this is all a confusing minefield, can’t blame people for using the safe choice, they-them.

    • firebyte@lemmy.world
      4·
      2 days ago

      But … is that automatically anyone else’s preference?

      No, and that’s the really hard part. Most would agree that ‘they/them/they’re’ (and so on) is generally safer than a gendered pronoun if unsure. It’s also really hard when someone’s pronouns, again for those in the back: are just as valid as mine, aren’t ones in common use.

      There’s a non-exhaustive list here: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/08/incomplete-list-gender-pronouns/

      It’s much easier with friends, as you’ll generally get into a groove eventually. However, is less so with strangers.

      Even asking someone’s pronouns could be met with confused looks from time to time. Context matters. If I asked for the pronouns of a farmer with a thousand yard stare and sun-kissed leather skin to match in my part of the world, despite growing up in the country, I’d probably be punched in the face. 😂