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Original poster

To be disappointed Dolly Parton supported biological men using women's toilets?

957 replies

Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 00:44

I really liked her music and she seemed like a nice person: her Imagination Library came to my borough recently. I was very sad to hear she'd died.
But was very disappointed to read this. The statements she made about trans people deserving respect, no issue with those.
But minimising the reasonable concerns women have about being forced to let men in their toilets was wrong.
I'm not saying she should have spoken out for GC issues. It might have been best just not to comment.
Parton had connections with drag queens and I wonder if that's the lens she saw transwomen through : not an excuse but might partially explain.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Thrownunderthebuz · 21/09/2026 03:08

After the Ed Sheeran debacle I think public figures should stay as neutral as possible. The world will become a little more beige and lacking in context but that’s the way it has to be in a binary social media world that does not allow for any nuance

DeeLasVegas · 21/09/2026 03:01

You seriously need to get a hobby or some fun in your life.

Pieceofpurplesky · 21/09/2026 02:59

Not every person can support every cause. She was invested in bringing kids out of poverty, improving literacy and many more things. Not everything all the time has to be about gender and toilets. There are many other things to care about, whilst for some it's the most important. We all have different passions

EmailsaysOOO · 21/09/2026 02:53

I wish this subject could be kept with the obsessives in the Feminism section of MN . Does it need to be out here ? leave the woman alone her body's barely cold.

suburberphobe · 21/09/2026 02:53

Dolly grew up in a 2 room shack with siblings, so I guess that's what informed her, sharing loos and all that.

She was a gay icon.

At the age of 80 and being very far from real life in this day and age she just didn't get it what it's like for women nowadays.

She'd be horrified if she knew the reality now I think.

I love Dolly!

FrippEnos · 21/09/2026 02:38

Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 01:58

Have you read the article I linked?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/dolly-parton-north-carolina-bathroom-900623/

I said in my OP that I would have been fine with her comments if she just said trans people deserve respect.

But she didn't just say that. She supported men being able to use women's toilets :

'In a recent interview with CNN Money, Dolly Parton offered her own assessment of North Carolina’s anti-LGBTQ “Bathroom Bill.”

“I think everybody should be treated with respect,” the country music star noted. “I don’t judge people, and I try not to get too caught up in the controversy of things. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are.

“I just know if I have to pee, I’m going to pee,” she continued. “I don’t care where it’s going to be.”

Here's a link to the video of her saying it, from the article:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/10153670417598067/?referral_source=video_home&surface_type=tab&in_reels_tab_context=TRUE

Show quote history

I read what you linked then I read the copy of what you linked.

At no point does ahe say transwomen (men) should be allowed to pee in women's toilets.

Even what you re posted doesn't say that,

What I do know is that she seems to have gone out of her way to appeal to everybody and not takes sides.

I also know that she paid for her drivers transition in the 1990's.

And that she could have been a billionaire but spent the money on various causes that benefitted many people.

It seems that she was one of those rare people that did infact love and care for everybody.

Why some people have difficulty with that is beyond me.

GreenEyesIsBack · 21/09/2026 02:37

YANBU, but it was never going to affect her.
It's very easy to, "be kind", when it won't be you.

TheOriginalEmu · 21/09/2026 02:14

Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 02:05

For context, this was what the North Carolina Bill she criticised wanted to do :

'The new law puts in place a statewide policy that bans individuals from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex'

https://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/03/us/north-carolina-gender-bathrooms-law-opposing-views/

Show quote history

I’ve read the bill and I’ve read what she said and I’ve heard her speak on the issue. She believed that transwomen are women and should be allowed to use a bathroom for women. It’s that simple. You disagree so you will just have to live with the fact she disagreed with you, i guess. 🤷‍♂️

TheOriginalEmu · 21/09/2026 02:12

Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 02:04

It's not bigotry to say that biological men should not be in female toilets, changing rooms, etc.

Show quote history

Clearly Dolly disagreed with you. You can be disappointed in that, but that was her opinion.

Original poster
Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 02:05

Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 01:58

Have you read the article I linked?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/dolly-parton-north-carolina-bathroom-900623/

I said in my OP that I would have been fine with her comments if she just said trans people deserve respect.

But she didn't just say that. She supported men being able to use women's toilets :

'In a recent interview with CNN Money, Dolly Parton offered her own assessment of North Carolina’s anti-LGBTQ “Bathroom Bill.”

“I think everybody should be treated with respect,” the country music star noted. “I don’t judge people, and I try not to get too caught up in the controversy of things. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are.

“I just know if I have to pee, I’m going to pee,” she continued. “I don’t care where it’s going to be.”

Here's a link to the video of her saying it, from the article:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/10153670417598067/?referral_source=video_home&surface_type=tab&in_reels_tab_context=TRUE

Show quote history

For context, this was what the North Carolina Bill she criticised wanted to do :

'The new law puts in place a statewide policy that bans individuals from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex'

https://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/03/us/north-carolina-gender-bathrooms-law-opposing-views/

North Carolina transgender law: Is it discriminatory? | CNN

When it comes to a controversial new transgender law that’s turning national attention toward North Carolina, Paul Stam and Candis Cox don’t see eye to eye.

https://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/03/us/north-carolina-gender-bathrooms-law-opposing-views

OP posts:
Smallpoxy · 21/09/2026 02:05

Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 02:04

It's not bigotry to say that biological men should not be in female toilets, changing rooms, etc.

Show quote history

She was allowed not to agree with you. What does it matter now?

Original poster
Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 02:04

TheOriginalEmu · 21/09/2026 02:01

or maybe she realised that bigotry is shit and she didn’t support it. You are being unreasonable to try and rationalise away her support of trans people to make it fit your own agenda.

Show quote history

It's not bigotry to say that biological men should not be in female toilets, changing rooms, etc.

OP posts:
TheOriginalEmu · 21/09/2026 02:01

Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 00:44

I really liked her music and she seemed like a nice person: her Imagination Library came to my borough recently. I was very sad to hear she'd died.
But was very disappointed to read this. The statements she made about trans people deserving respect, no issue with those.
But minimising the reasonable concerns women have about being forced to let men in their toilets was wrong.
I'm not saying she should have spoken out for GC issues. It might have been best just not to comment.
Parton had connections with drag queens and I wonder if that's the lens she saw transwomen through : not an excuse but might partially explain.

or maybe she realised that bigotry is shit and she didn’t support it. You are being unreasonable to try and rationalise away her support of trans people to make it fit your own agenda.

Original poster
Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 01:58

FrippEnos · 21/09/2026 01:36

As far as I can see (and I haven't seen all that she has said)

She basically said that everybody should be treated with respect, not be judged and accepted as who they are.

Which is remarkably similar to what JKR says.

But its intersting how people will twist things to suit their own purpose,

Have you read the article I linked?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/dolly-parton-north-carolina-bathroom-900623/

I said in my OP that I would have been fine with her comments if she just said trans people deserve respect.

But she didn't just say that. She supported men being able to use women's toilets :

'In a recent interview with CNN Money, Dolly Parton offered her own assessment of North Carolina’s anti-LGBTQ “Bathroom Bill.”

“I think everybody should be treated with respect,” the country music star noted. “I don’t judge people, and I try not to get too caught up in the controversy of things. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are.

“I just know if I have to pee, I’m going to pee,” she continued. “I don’t care where it’s going to be.”

Here's a link to the video of her saying it, from the article:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/10153670417598067/?referral_source=video_home&surface_type=tab&in_reels_tab_context=TRUE

Dolly Parton on North Carolina "Bathroom Bill": "Everybody Should Be Treated With Respect"

Dolly Parton on North Carolina “Bathroom Bill”: “Everybody Should Be Treated With Respect”

“I just know if I have to pee, I’m going to pee. I don’t care where it’s going to be,” says the country music star.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/dolly-parton-north-carolina-bathroom-900623/

OP posts:
Jewel52 · 21/09/2026 01:49

Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 00:52

I get that a lot people loved her music, her charity work: I still do. But does that mean nothing she did can be criticised even mildly?
I'm not saying this negates her music or her philanthropy.

Edited
Show quote history

Nit picking to suit your agenda.

But think you haven’t found your people on here tonight

FrippEnos · 21/09/2026 01:36

As far as I can see (and I haven't seen all that she has said)

She basically said that everybody should be treated with respect, not be judged and accepted as who they are.

Which is remarkably similar to what JKR says.

But its intersting how people will twist things to suit their own purpose,

Original poster
Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 01:35

XigDoop · 21/09/2026 01:26

Yes she was wrong on this one but she was a kind soul. If only more celebs were like her.

I agree we need more celebs like her!

She was genuinely kind by all accounts, not just a #bekind person, and I think in a way that may have been her weak spot on this issue.

If you read what she says, it's all very focused on the hurt feelings of trans people : ' And I just see how broken-hearted they get over certain things and I know how real they are. I know how important [gender-affirming care] is to them. That’s who they are.'

And : 'I just know if I have to pee, I’m going to pee,” she continued. “I don’t care where it’s going to be.”

Unfortunately genuine kindness can sometimes be misdirected.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 01:28

Strokethefurrywall · 21/09/2026 01:05

And also maybe criticize any one of the multiple famous people still alive who can take up the cause. Dolly is dead so no, she shouldn’t face criticism - she wasn’t perfect, but she was damn near close.

'she wasn’t perfect, but she was damn near close.'
Dolly wrote great music and gave generously to charity. That doesn't mean nobody can ever say anything negative about anything she's said. George Michael gave generously to charity and was a talented musician : should he also be exempt from criticism? Or any other talented and philanthropic person?

OP posts:
XigDoop · 21/09/2026 01:26

Yes she was wrong on this one but she was a kind soul. If only more celebs were like her.

Strokethefurrywall · 21/09/2026 01:20

But so what if she did?? She’s allowed to have her own opinions. None of this negates or besmirches the good she did before she died.
As far as 80 year olds go, she was far more progressive and far sooner than many of her contemporaries…

Original poster
Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 01:19

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/09/2026 01:05

It does seem an odd time to bring this up being as she just passed away.

Many many people hold the same opinion on this issue as she did. Like it or not her view was pretty unremarkable and mainstream.

Show quote history

'Like it or not her view was pretty unremarkable and mainstream.'

  • her views probably were mainstream in her industry. I don't think most Americans support them, though. Similar to here, it often looked that way prominent figures in media did & people who did were often very vocal and silenced dissenters.

I didn't know until recently that she publicly supported tthis. I came across the article when I was reading after she passed away about advocacy she'd done for gay rights.

OP posts:
Smallpoxy · 21/09/2026 01:19

Oh who cares. She is dead. She did so much good. Leave her alone.

Original poster
Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 01:16

Strokethefurrywall · 21/09/2026 01:02

She’s been dead less than 2 weeks for crying out loud!!! This woman has done enough during the course of her lifetime to uplift the lives of millions, and yet, in your eyes, she’s a disappointment because of something youve decided she didn’t speak up enough about??

Fucks sake.

'in your eyes, she’s a disappointment because of something youve decided she didn’t speak up enough about??'

  • Please read my post accurately. I said : 'I'm not saying she should have spoken out for GC issues. It might have been best just not to comment.'

My issue was NOT that she didn't speak up about GC issues. My issue is that she supported biological men using women's toilets.

OP posts:
Strokethefurrywall · 21/09/2026 01:05

And also maybe criticize any one of the multiple famous people still alive who can take up the cause. Dolly is dead so no, she shouldn’t face criticism - she wasn’t perfect, but she was damn near close.

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/09/2026 01:05

Jane3212 · 21/09/2026 00:52

I get that a lot people loved her music, her charity work: I still do. But does that mean nothing she did can be criticised even mildly?
I'm not saying this negates her music or her philanthropy.

Edited
Show quote history

It does seem an odd time to bring this up being as she just passed away.

Many many people hold the same opinion on this issue as she did. Like it or not her view was pretty unremarkable and mainstream.