And for what it's worth, my DMs are open on Twitter as a crossword friend and ally.Īnd that center! NAH IM GOOD is a catchy casual phrase to anchor everything. Trans constructors like Jenna and Lisa are certainly leading the way in independent venues such as The Indie 500, Crucinova, and Queer Qrosswords I hope their work inspires other trans, nonbinary, and queer folks to give constructing a try. A week's worth of Times puzzles includes, on average, 583 clues.) population identifies as transgender, then at least 0.6% of crossword clues with cultural anchoring, or 1 in 167 clues, should feature trans people/concepts. (If, as national data indicates, at least 0.6% of the U.S. Unfortunately, I don't know of many trans constructors actively working today, and although mainstream crosswords have trended toward more diverse representation in some domains, references to trans people, communities, and ideas are yet to be seen in mainstream puzzles with enough regularity to suggest that trans representation is a conscious priority.
Jenna and Lisa directed me to a clue that hopefully frames the entry in a positive light for trans solvers and makes them feel seen, while reminding all solvers to respect the names and pronouns of others. But if I were making this puzzle today, I'd probably pass on it out of deference to trans constructors whose voices would give the entry more value than I could, since I am a cis person without personal experiences of being misgendered or deadnamed.
Though it's a sensitive answer, I believe it's noteworthy and deserves a place in the Times crossword Jenna and Lisa agreed. My sincere thanks to crossword constructors Jenna LaFleur and Lisa Bunker for guiding me on how to approach the entry DEADNAME.