Brianna Ghey and Framing of Transgender People in The Times Newspaper: A Queer Study of Political Communication in Right-Wing British Broadsheets

Rayner, Jessie

Abstract

This article explores how politically right-leaning British broadsheets, specifically The Times, frame transgender identities through the case of teenager Brianna Ghey’s murder. Applying a queer constructivist lens and Barad’s intra-action theory, the study analyses how media discourse, state power, and public knowledge entangle to perpetuate dominant narratives that marginalise trans bodies. Using a thematic framing analysis of The Times articles from February 2023 to February 2024, that mention Ghey, the research reveals three dominant frames—Spectacle, De-legitimate, and Political Left—which collectively contribute to the de-legitimisation and politicisation of trans identities. This work argues that these frames shape societal attitudes toward transgender people, reinforcing conservative cultural boundaries. Ultimately, the paper calls for alternative sites of resistance, such as digital platforms, where trans voices can reshape discourse and challenge harmful representations.

Citation

Rayner, J. (2025). Brianna Ghey and Framing of Transgender People in The Times Newspaper: A Queer Study of Political Communication in Right-Wing British Broadsheets. SOAS journal of postgraduate research, 16, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.25501/SOAS.00043300

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jan 23, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 23, 2025
• Journal: SOAS journal of postgraduate research
• Print ISSN: 2631-3812
• Electronic ISSN: 2517-6226
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Pages: 1-21
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.25501/SOAS.00043300
• Keywords: Framing, British media, representation, political communication, queer theory, transgender studies
• Publisher URL: https://www.soas.ac.uk/research/soas-journals-and-books/soas-journal-postgraduate-research