Those hosting the webchat were very upset with the discourse.
TV writer Graham Linehan, has been known over the years to voice his distain for the trans community, with this week being no exception.
According to those attending and hosting a webchat for parenting website Mumsnet, Linehan hijacked the discussion, which was Women In Politics, to spread his anti-trans opinions.
During the webchat hosted by Caroline Nokes, the Tory MP for Romsey and Southampton North and chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, and Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, Linehan started to ask questions that had nothing to do with the topic at hand;
“Hi Caroline and Stella. My name is Graham Linehan.
I have been visited by police three times, banned from Twitter, lost much of my livelihood, because I think the question ‘what is a woman?’ is actually a very good one.
Here is my single question, which I believe can be answered by a simple yes or no. Is Eddie Izzard a woman?”
Creasy was quick to shut the conversation down by replying;
“[I] am bemused to hear from you and your view that a discussion about mums in politics needs to be framed by a question about Eddie Izzard.
My understanding is that Eddie doesn’t identify as either, though not sure why that bothers you or is relevant to this, as pretty sure Eddie isn’t a mum
My feminism is inclusive of all those who are targeted by the patriarchy because that’s my target, as I believe it holds all women – those born them and those who become them – back.”
Just Stella Creasy putting Glinner back in his box ??? pic.twitter.com/eCw0voRu4w
— Banquo’s Ghost (@_banquos_ghost_) February 1, 2022
The conversation quickly went viral with many on Twitter voicing their dismay over the whole ordeal.
this was meant to be a chat about women in politics and practically every question is about trans people, hard to see how you could *not* describe Mumsnet as “radicalised” at this point tbh https://t.co/XZoI1FxSQj
— Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) February 1, 2022
During the conversation Nokes responded;
“I think it is really important to focus on this being a chat about how we get more women involved in public life.
I want that to be all women, natal women, trans women, and those who self-identify and do not yet (or perhaps ever) have a GRC.
There are lots of questions about the abuse faced by women online and in the media, and if we all simply argue about the definition of a woman we are playing right into the hands of men who want us to do that.”
During a statement with PinkNews Linehan backed himself up by saying that he joined the webchat ‘to point out the absurdity of talking about women in politics when you don’t even know what a woman is’.
