Death of Lucy Meadows

Death of Lucy Meadows
Date19 March 2013
LocationEngland

Lucy Meadows (1981 – 19 March 2013) was a transgender teacher from Accrington in the United Kingdom. She died by suicide in March 2013 after the decision of her employers to allow her to return to work after sex reassignment surgery was covered in the national press.

Background

Meadows grew up in a Christian family and married her partner Ruth Smith in 2009, prior to transitioning. Meadows and Smith separated in 2011, and at Christmas 2012, Meadows told her school about the transition.[1]

Press coverage of her transition

When the school sent an announcement to parents of her transition, local and national media outlets began to cover it as well as her return to a position as a teacher. The Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn wrote an article repeatedly misgendering Meadows and criticising her decision to return to her job as a teacher.[1]

On 3 January 2013, Meadows complained to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) of "harassment from the press", specifically mentioning the Littlejohn article.[2]

Death and coroner's inquest

In March 2013, Meadows was found dead as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. At the inquest into Meadows' death, the coroner criticised the press for their handling of the story. According to The Guardian, he "singled out the Daily Mail as he accused the paper of 'ridicule and humiliation' and a 'character assassination' of Lucy Meadows".[3] The coroner recommended that guidelines about press intrusion into the lives of the public be tightened.[4]

Reactions to her death

According to Lucy's ex wife Ruth Smith coverage by the Daily Mail among others was used to "attack a woman who wanted only to live her life in peace."[1]

Writing in The Guardian, Paris Lees stated that Meadows had been "persecuted by the press" after her local newspaper reported on her transition.[5]

A petition drive was launched demanding Littlejohn be sacked. Two petitions signed by over 240,000 people were handed over to the Daily Mail offices.[6]

Helen Belcher of Trans Media Watch said “I want people to come to their senses and realise the effect that coverage can have. Our politicians need to realise that trans people face real problems and the media is generally not helping – it is hindering. We need to sit up and listen, Lucy was being pursued by the press through the Christmas holiday and the new year. She had two weeks of constant harassment and monstering.”[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Smith, Ruth (20 November 2017). "Lucy Meadows was a transgender teacher who took her own life. Her story must be remembered". The Independent. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b Brown, Jonathan (23 March 2013). "Transgender primary school teacher who 'took own life' had sought protection from media hounding before her death". The Independent. London. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Lucy Meadows coroner tells press: 'shame on you'". The Guardian. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Media criticised over transgender teacher Lucy Meadows' death". BBC News. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  5. ^ Lees, Paris (26 March 2013). "Lucy Meadows: why her death will not be in vain | Paris Lees". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  6. ^ Turvill, William (2 April 2013). "Campaigns to get Richard Littlejohn sacked by Daily Mail signed by 240,000". Press Gazette. Retrieved 3 February 2023.