Controversial anti-trans group, the LGB Alliance, publicly criticised 58-year-old comedian Eddie Izzard, saying she caused offence by requesting to be referred to by she/her pronouns. In 2017, Izzard said: “I am essentially transgender. I have boy mode and girl mode. I do feel I have boy genetics and girl genetics.” However, in her recent TV appearance on Sky Arts series Portrait Artist of the Year, she said: “This is the first programme I’ve asked if I can be ‘she’ and ‘her’ – this is a little transition period…I just want to be based in girl mode from now on.”
In response to Izzard’s announcement, the LGB Alliance tweeted: “Hi Eddie Izzard, happy holidays! Some of those who’ve always admired you are feeling rather let down by your announcement. We feel sure you didn’t mean to cause offence. We’d like to invite you to discuss it on a Zoom call. Please get in touch.” Many hit back at the tweet, with one Twitter user saying: “LGB Alliance” showing their true transphobic colors yet again. This tweet is awful and the person or people hiding behind this “Alliance” should be ashamed.”
Many others showed their support for Izzard, with one user responding: “What is wrong with you people? Eddie Izzard is an international treasure and she doesn’t owe you anything. Congrats Eddie, we love you. For what it’s worth, you were one of the first people I ever saw absolutely smashing gender norms and it gave me hope. Now even more so.”
Labour MP and shadow minister for women and equalities, Charlotte Nichols, also responded to the LGB Alliance, saying: “If you’re offended by other people’s choice of pronouns, given everything else that’s going on might I suggest getting some perspective? Solidarity with Eddie Izzard, who is free, as is everyone else, to define herself in whatever terms she deems fit.”
A change.org petition has called for UK media outlets to stop uncritically platforming the anti-trans group, LGB Alliance. The petition, created by Scottish actor, director and LGBTQ+ activist, David Paisley, has now amassed over 12,500 signatures, with the aim of reaching 20,000. It reads: “The LGB Alliance are widely thought of as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group, as such any discussion in the UK media should frame them with respect to how they are perceived by the LGBTQ+ community.”
Please take a moment to sign the petition.
