Transgender actress Tommy Dorfman, known for her role as Ryan Shaver in the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why,” has recently been at the center of a controversy involving Delta Air Lines.
Dorfman, who publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2021, shared a video on her TikTok account that quickly gained viral attention. The video, approximately 30 seconds long (now since deleted), depicts part of an altercation that occurred at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. According to Dorfman, several Delta employees, including one named “Tristan,” intentionally misgendered her multiple times.
In the posted video, Dorfman is seen confronting a Delta employee, questioning about being misgendered intentionally. The employee’s response is that it wasn’t intentional. The situation escalates when the employee warns Dorfman of involving the Port Authority to escort her out of the building, emphasizing the proximity to Christmas in their remark.
The Escalating Confrontation: Dorfman's Exchange with Delta Staff
Dorfman expressed her frustration in the TikTok post, stating, “When you try to advocate for yourself at @delta and are met with even more transphobia and threats of being arrested at LaGuardia. Tristan, the employee, said he was fine with me posting this. didn’t realize it was condescending to flag a human rights violation after another employee misgendered me incessantly.”
The Anti-Defamation League, an organization dedicated to combating hate, underscores the importance of names and pronouns in personal identity, emphasizing that misgendering can be perceived as disrespectful and harmful.
Delta Air Lines, in response to the incident, stated through a spokesperson that they are investigating the matter and have reached out to Dorfman to understand more about what occurred. Delta’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is highlighted on their website as a long-standing company value.
This incident has sparked a significant debate on social media. While many users have shown support for Dorfman, commending her for standing up for herself, there has also been substantial backlash, particularly from conservative circles, with some praising the Delta employee’s response in the video.
