The New York Times Faces Criticism for Father’s Day Essay on Transgender Parent

The New York Times is under fire for publishing a Father’s Day essay centered on the experiences of a transgender parent learning to be a ‘trans dad.’ The guest essay, titled ‘To My Daughter, My Gender Was Never Complicated,’ appeared Sunday morning in a comic-strip format. Written by Zach Ellams, who identifies as male despite being biologically female, the piece details raising a daughter amid questions about gender.

Illustrations in the essay depict Ellams’ daughter asking direct questions. In one scene, she asks, ‘How long did you have breasts for, Dad?’ while the two walk down the street. Another panel shows the daughter in a playground conversation, expressing a wish to grow a beard, with a friend responding incredulously. The essay highlights Ellams’ journey to embrace their identity, aided by the child’s acceptance.

Critics have denounced The New York Times for its choice to release this essay on Father’s Day. Katie Miller, podcaster and former government aide, disparaged it as a way to ‘corrupt our children.’ Sean Davis, CEO of The Federalist, criticized it as celebrating ‘playing daddy dress-up’ as ‘true embodiment of fatherhood.’ Similarly, Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, remarked that the essay exemplifies ‘wokeness limping a bit from injuries.’

Tim Young, a communications fellow at The Heritage Foundation, also commented on the publication. Meanwhile, President Trump criticized The Times separately, calling their coverage of Iran ‘treasonous’ and announced plans to include them in a lawsuit.

The backlash follows other recent controversies for The Times. Earlier this year, it faced criticism over an opinion column by Nicholas Kristof that received condemnation from various quarters, including the Israel Foreign Ministry.

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