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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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