Gary Lineker hits the back of the net

I do wish we'd stop calling them GC though. Most of the people labelled that way aren't critical of gender at all, they simply acknowledge material reality. You can do that and still resolutely support the gender system - I had a conversation with one woman last year who claimed to be 'GC' and was arguing that boys liking 'feminine' things were anti social and bullying them to conform was part of the social contract. She ostensibly agreed that sex is immutable, but she was totally wedded to gender rules, so she was in no way 'gender critical'.

Piers Morgan is the same - he's very useful right now in speaking up about material reality, as nuts as it is that this needs to be the case, but he mocks men who carry their own children because he thinks it's unmanly, so he's not gender critical.

I don't know enough about Lineker to say if he's critical of gender, all I know about him these days is the silver fox appeal other women have demonstrated here, and vague liberal stance in politics, which is why this is a touch surprising, given the present state of things.

'his tweet is weak and late'

Please let us not do this. Just about all of us here will have arrived late compared to the people who spotted the problems many years back. Just about all of us are doing less than others have done and are doing

Absolutely this. I'm very late to it myself and I hugely respect the people who have been fighting on for years and suffered so much bullying and silencing.

But it's still crucial to have such high-profile support from those outside the immediate issue and has to be seen as a positive thing

Wow. Good lad

Piers Morgan is not a feminist either, but he keeps on and on asking awkward questions. He has a good platform in the mainstream media, so at this point all GC voices are helpful. Even if they are from a surprising source.

The brocialists and 'this is what a feminist looks like' men are absent, not just late. I'll put up with a sexist man on this rather than a misogynist one.

Purity of thought and ideology is one of the things that is fuelling this insanity.

There's nothing feminist about him!
But that's the point - you don't have to be a feminist to believe humans can't change sex.

Hmm. I met Gary Lineaker once, he was compare at an industry awards black tie event where I was one of very few women. There's nothing feminist about him!

his tweet is weak and late

Please let us not do this. Just about all of us here will have arrived late compared to the people who spotted the problems many years back. Just about all of us are doing less than others have done and are doing.

I’ve always found him likeable, but I’m quite taken by surprised how happy I feel about him backing women. So many men in the public eye are turning out to be not-so-closet misogynist lately, it’s a relief when they aren’t!

Ditton, MrsGrindah. Although I think his tweet is weak and late.

A much more acceptable feminist stance.

God I’m the other way...cant bear him but now I’ll have to grudgingly give him some respect!

Laughing my socks off at the GaryLurve on the thread. I'm sure it's not going to endear him to the incels stamping their feet at him though.

@MrsTerryPratchett
“I used to like him and Billy Bragg. Who knew that Gary would be the one defending women's rights and putting himself out there?”
Ditto, funny old world isn’t it?!

He is pretty lush for an older guy.

Is now the time to admit I have quite a huge crush on Harry The Owl?
I would really quite like to do things to him!

I tend to agree floral. It's an important moment, and possibly a tipping point.

I'll take all the late majority climb-on-boarders I can. I'm just keeping hold of my cynicism about people's motivation for a while longer.

Still, it is quite amusing seeing the beards underneath the tweet pouting.

What do incels call men like Garry again?

I don't care if he does see the way the wind is blowing. We need people to speak up, and as hard as it's been to be plugging away thanklessly at this - I will gladly watch and welcome all late comers.

Still, it is quite amusing seeing the beards underneath the tweet pouting.

FINALLY!

(I can’t see the appeal at all myself )

He is pretty lush for an older guy.

Shallow me 🤦‍♀️

I once had a dream we ran away together 😳

Bad feminist, really bad.

All my years of fancying him, finally rewarded!

This is my Portillo moment! I can't explain how happy this has made me. Feel like I can now go back to nourishing my humongous crush on him.

GO GARY

Promising but a lot more would be helpful. Multiple female ex-athletes are far more vocal.

I’ll be rooting for him to do more.. come on Gary, we need you!!!!

thereplycamefromanchorage

So pleased to see more people in the public eye beginning, tentatively, to express GC support.

Agreed. We've always known that many people agree, but were scared. They've been deliberately scared, had the frighteners put on them.

Hopefully, this is the beginning. And will become an avalanche.