That paragon of journalism, Life & Style magazine, recently offered a cover story about Shiloh Jolie-Pitt’s haircut. According to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance against Defamation (GLAAD), the story claims that actress Angelina Jolie is turning Shiloh into a boy. The story asks whether the 3-year-old’s short haircut, pants and polo shirt are “harming” her and consults an expert from Focus on the Family who says, unshockingly, “They need help…it’s important to teach our children that gender distinction is very healthy.”

Um.

In GLAAD’s words: “When a magazine like Life & Style slaps this mixture of intrusive tabloid sensationalism and judgmental stereotyping on its cover, it can make life difficult for young people who are in the process of coming to terms with who they are. The magazine needs to send a message to its readers — many of them parents — that they should not reject their children simply because they don’t happen to conform to Life & Style’s narrow gender stereotyping.Targeting children for ridicule about the way they dress is unacceptable, regardless of their parent’s celebrity status.”

The National Center for Transgender Equality told The Advocate, “The length of Shiloh’s hair or the clothes she wears are really matters for her and her parents to decide; this is a family that is known for their fashion…What’s important here is that every child, including Shiloh, has the opportunity to express herself and explore her world in a way that is safe and nurturing for her. Our society needs healthy, well-rounded children whose interests and tastes are as diverse as the children themselves. Shiloh — and all other children — deserve the right to be themselves in ways that feel right to them as they learn and grow.”

GLAAD reports that Lindsay Ferraro, Life & Style’s Publicity Manager, was “dismissive” of GLAAD’s concerns.

Feel free to discuss your dismay with Dan Wakeford, Life & Style’s Editor-in-Chief, at dwakeford@bauer-usa.com, or with Lindsay, lferraro@bauer-usa.com. Be sure to tell them you rilly rilly love trashy magazines and you intend to give your business to Us Weekly in the future.