Graham Linehan is a multiple BAFTA winning Irish comedy writer best known for his popular TV sitcoms Father Ted and The IT Crowd. Around six years ago he was cancelled for the mortal sin of criticising trans activism. He was banned on Twitter/X for a while, and lost work contracts, friends, and eventually his marriage.
Meeting him out here on his tour was such a privilege. He was just the nicest guy. Father Ted is my all time favourite sitcom, ever since I lived in Ireland in the mid-nineties when it was first on TV. Great work as always, Rebekah. I appreciate everything you do.
Thanks Craig, I found him very warm in person too. He seems very soft hearted, which is maybe why he can be so aggressive towards perceived injustice and some of the worst trans activists. Sensitive people sometimes have the biggest reactions.
It saddens me so to read about people like Graham standing up and losing so much. But very proud, also. That instinct to stand up - what a beautiful thing ❤️
Why must it be "Trans women are women" rather than "Trans women should be treated as women?" Don't people feel the coercion in the framing? I feel like lots of people who cannot accept the first premise could accept the second. But where's the mind-mincing in that?
I do suspect that there's a slow dawning going on in many many people that we've been taken for a ride but they're unwilling to say anything out of fear, or because they're traumatised, or out of a stupid desire to continue appearing solidly progressive to fellow supporters of their particular flaccid political party and popular on platforms that are mincing their brains for bucks. To be fair, it's pretty wild for westerners to have their own society turn on them to mine them for capital. We were comfy for a long time while profiting was coming via raping non-western countries' resources and forcing them into the system with unpayable IMF loans. Now it's us. I do wonder if the shoe will drop in time for people to come together and stop full-blown totalitarianism with trans figureheads everywhere telling people to stop believing their own senses but not feeling too confident yet :(
I will never accept the 'counter argument' that trans women are women. They're not, and the fact that some of them cannot accept that women feel uncomfortable with males in female spaces perfectly illustrates that. Only women truly understand that feeling, in my opinion.
Very interesting to consider Graham's and your perspectives on this topic, Rebekah, thank you for sharing. I think you're right when you mention that many people feel deep empathy for individuals struggling in this space, but that this can sometimes create a blindness to the flow-on effects on others.
I remember a conversation with a group of friends sometime in 2019 (who have incidentally - or perhaps relatedly - cut me off after my vocal views on covid and associated mandates) where one friend in particular started talking about TERFs and JK Rowling and how terrible they are. I, having never heard the term TERF nor been aware of the details of the Rowling 'scandal', politely and sincerely enquired further on the specifics only to be told that the issue was that trans women were not being treated fairly by those dwelling on their trans status (as opposed to maintaining there is no distinction between trans and natal females, or 'trans women are women'). Again, sincerely (and perhaps naively), I said: but there is a difference; it doesn't mean one is better than the other, but there absolutely is a difference. I didn't realise that this was the 'wrong' thing to say, and my friend's irritated reaction really confused me. I still can't quite believe that things have continued to evolve so aggressively in this space since.
I have great compassion and empathy for those struggling with gender identity challenges, and I support adults to live in congruence with their authentic selves as far as reasonably possible, although I do not accept that to respectfully define the incontrovertible differences between trans and natal sexes automatically equals bigotry. Like many people, I have concerns about how these elements intersect with broader issues related to female-only spaces, sports, crisis services, prisons, etc., and I think we must be able to speak about these things openly, honestly, in good faith and with respect, without fear of cancellation (or worse). Like so many challenging topics, it seems difficult to find spaces where these conversations occur, as both sides are broadly prone to sensationalist ad hominem approaches which is why I rarely comment on this issue. Thank you for providing such a space with your thoughtful articles.
As is so often the case, I agree with all of that Laine! I would add, I am concerned that many young people who are opting for gender transition (socially, hormonally, surgically) are not necessarily getting any closer to their 'authentic selves.' In some cases (Buck Angel for example) people seem to be happier living as the opposite sex to the one that they are, but I don't think that's not the case in the main. Partly because I have seen research suggesting that after an initial high, in the medium to long term, people who opt for these procedures are on balance unhappy. And partly because I think in our culture we medicalise/pathologise emotional and spiritual distress. And the answer to emotional and spiritual distress is almost never a medical solution.
I also agree with your view here, although I do not know enough about the stats/research to comment with any authority. It certainly seems that the sheer increase in number of people transitioning now suggests an inorganic influence, and it makes sense that problems could come with this. Although I know this may be controversial, I do believe there is an element of 'social contagion' associated with the uptick in transitioners, and I can completely see how this does not lead a person to their authentic self.
Regarding pathologisation and medicalisation of emotional and spiritual distress, I could not agree with you more. I chose to return to study counselling (as opposed to psychology) for this exact reason, although I must admit that even the field of counselling does seem to be moving towards a more heavily medicalised model.
A really wonderful interview. Thank you for sharing. I think many of us (your followers) have experienced what it's like to lose friends over differing opinions on Covid measures. However, it must be a whole other level to go through that as a public figure. I really don't understand why there is so much intolerance now for differing opinions.
Meeting him out here on his tour was such a privilege. He was just the nicest guy. Father Ted is my all time favourite sitcom, ever since I lived in Ireland in the mid-nineties when it was first on TV. Great work as always, Rebekah. I appreciate everything you do.
Thanks Craig, I found him very warm in person too. He seems very soft hearted, which is maybe why he can be so aggressive towards perceived injustice and some of the worst trans activists. Sensitive people sometimes have the biggest reactions.
Agreed. Soft hearted but tough as nails.
It saddens me so to read about people like Graham standing up and losing so much. But very proud, also. That instinct to stand up - what a beautiful thing ❤️
Why must it be "Trans women are women" rather than "Trans women should be treated as women?" Don't people feel the coercion in the framing? I feel like lots of people who cannot accept the first premise could accept the second. But where's the mind-mincing in that?
I do suspect that there's a slow dawning going on in many many people that we've been taken for a ride but they're unwilling to say anything out of fear, or because they're traumatised, or out of a stupid desire to continue appearing solidly progressive to fellow supporters of their particular flaccid political party and popular on platforms that are mincing their brains for bucks. To be fair, it's pretty wild for westerners to have their own society turn on them to mine them for capital. We were comfy for a long time while profiting was coming via raping non-western countries' resources and forcing them into the system with unpayable IMF loans. Now it's us. I do wonder if the shoe will drop in time for people to come together and stop full-blown totalitarianism with trans figureheads everywhere telling people to stop believing their own senses but not feeling too confident yet :(
Good point about turning the mining inwards. Scary. On changing perceptions, I read this this morning, seems relevant. https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/perception-bias-creating-conflict
Great interview Rebekah. I'm a big fan of Graham!
I will never accept the 'counter argument' that trans women are women. They're not, and the fact that some of them cannot accept that women feel uncomfortable with males in female spaces perfectly illustrates that. Only women truly understand that feeling, in my opinion.
interesting interview 🙏 for sharing
Very interesting to consider Graham's and your perspectives on this topic, Rebekah, thank you for sharing. I think you're right when you mention that many people feel deep empathy for individuals struggling in this space, but that this can sometimes create a blindness to the flow-on effects on others.
I remember a conversation with a group of friends sometime in 2019 (who have incidentally - or perhaps relatedly - cut me off after my vocal views on covid and associated mandates) where one friend in particular started talking about TERFs and JK Rowling and how terrible they are. I, having never heard the term TERF nor been aware of the details of the Rowling 'scandal', politely and sincerely enquired further on the specifics only to be told that the issue was that trans women were not being treated fairly by those dwelling on their trans status (as opposed to maintaining there is no distinction between trans and natal females, or 'trans women are women'). Again, sincerely (and perhaps naively), I said: but there is a difference; it doesn't mean one is better than the other, but there absolutely is a difference. I didn't realise that this was the 'wrong' thing to say, and my friend's irritated reaction really confused me. I still can't quite believe that things have continued to evolve so aggressively in this space since.
I have great compassion and empathy for those struggling with gender identity challenges, and I support adults to live in congruence with their authentic selves as far as reasonably possible, although I do not accept that to respectfully define the incontrovertible differences between trans and natal sexes automatically equals bigotry. Like many people, I have concerns about how these elements intersect with broader issues related to female-only spaces, sports, crisis services, prisons, etc., and I think we must be able to speak about these things openly, honestly, in good faith and with respect, without fear of cancellation (or worse). Like so many challenging topics, it seems difficult to find spaces where these conversations occur, as both sides are broadly prone to sensationalist ad hominem approaches which is why I rarely comment on this issue. Thank you for providing such a space with your thoughtful articles.
As is so often the case, I agree with all of that Laine! I would add, I am concerned that many young people who are opting for gender transition (socially, hormonally, surgically) are not necessarily getting any closer to their 'authentic selves.' In some cases (Buck Angel for example) people seem to be happier living as the opposite sex to the one that they are, but I don't think that's not the case in the main. Partly because I have seen research suggesting that after an initial high, in the medium to long term, people who opt for these procedures are on balance unhappy. And partly because I think in our culture we medicalise/pathologise emotional and spiritual distress. And the answer to emotional and spiritual distress is almost never a medical solution.
I also agree with your view here, although I do not know enough about the stats/research to comment with any authority. It certainly seems that the sheer increase in number of people transitioning now suggests an inorganic influence, and it makes sense that problems could come with this. Although I know this may be controversial, I do believe there is an element of 'social contagion' associated with the uptick in transitioners, and I can completely see how this does not lead a person to their authentic self.
Regarding pathologisation and medicalisation of emotional and spiritual distress, I could not agree with you more. I chose to return to study counselling (as opposed to psychology) for this exact reason, although I must admit that even the field of counselling does seem to be moving towards a more heavily medicalised model.
A really wonderful interview. Thank you for sharing. I think many of us (your followers) have experienced what it's like to lose friends over differing opinions on Covid measures. However, it must be a whole other level to go through that as a public figure. I really don't understand why there is so much intolerance now for differing opinions.
And I think the more intolerance one encounters, the more it can create a reactionary intolerance too.