Grayson Perry

I find it hard to believe a wife would not be affected by her husband having a sissy fetish. (I think he has said that this is what he has?).

I wonder how his fetish has affected his wife.

I think the critical facto here is that you couldn't imaging GP ever putting in for or accepting any awards in his field intended for women any more than Barry Humphries or dare I say Les Dawson would have.

He's in a very different position than he was just a few years ago, and it's also hard to imagine that the TRAs haven't been actively trying to recruit him as a rôle model/ally. It must feel a bit precarious. He has much more to lose than JKR and is nowhere near as invulnerable.

An intelligent person updates their views based on the information available
I certainly have
but it may be that those in the media focus choose not to shout about their views

they have that absolute right
and anybody who decries another for being circumspect
should look at themselves first

the silent majority is a theme in all issues

It's funny isn't it. The art world he revolves around is meant to be controversial, but actually, they're pretty conventional thinkers who'll go with the wind that blows hardest.

I know a lot of arty/art industry types as acquaintances, met a lot through my ex. It seems to me the occasional exception is a creative genius with their own mind, the rest are derivative wokesters all looking to each other to see what they're supposed to be doing and thinking. The stuff arty types write about art (at least in those circles) is cringe-inducing bolleaux and usually involves guff about identity. And you are NOT allowed to question it because it doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Here's his thinking from the series:

(although I don't know whether he's been consistent in his thinking).

In fact, there are a number of short video pieces:

www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Grayson+Perry+BORN+RISKY

If he's GC then he's changed his mind from a few years ago. It was a Grayson Perry documentary series (which included an episode with a FTM transitioner) that first led to me questioning all the trans stuff.

In the episode he was very much of the opinion that this person was "born in the wrong body" and thought the whole transition process (surgery and all) was great. There was a bit in the episode where the mum got very upset and I remember feeling really uncomfortable as he almost scolded her for getting so emotional about it. It felt like he was implying that her tears were a sign that she was being transphobic.

I think he also has an actively super-woke daughter and may be wary of saying anything that would cause a rift with her (in the manner of Jonathan Ross.)

I have a certain sympathy with that position, having kool-aid swigging young adult daughters. We argue about it and I don't hold back on telling them my views but I'd be more circumspect if either of us were in the public eye and wouldn't like to air those disagreements in the glare of the media.

I think it's also different for him as a man. My Dh feels he doesn't have the right to argue with his daughters about their rights and identity.

It OK for people to disagree with the gender identity ideology and to keep quiet about their views. I'm not especially brave about this and would be a complete coward if being open would destroy my career.

The problem comes when some people are so afraid they seek appproval by undermining those who are brave enough to stick their heads above the parapet. However, Grayson Perry isn't doing this and the interview is, overall, a positive.

The thing I do dislike about Perry is him exercising his fetish in public in ways that involve others.

He's still sailing pretty close to the wind.

The subtext of what he says is obvious, and a joke about pronouns at the end.

I think his answers tell you what he thinks in a way that means he can't be lambasted.

Clever.

I read his book “the descent of man” and think he make a lot of excellent observations on masculinity and gender. He clearly is gender critical in that he understands sex is inherent and gender is social, he’s not very feminist-allied though obviously as he openly fetishises femininity. Not everyone who is gender critical is feminist or a feminist ally, it’s not a straight alignment like that is it.
I enjoyed his documentaries exploring identity as well, interviewing people from diverse backgrounds and then making art pieces of/for them. He has obviously thought an awful lot about this subject both personally and professionally. I find it really sad though that someone so fiercely individual, intelligent, creative, who clearly enjoys sharing his insights into the world, exploring the human condition and instigating/facilitating debate with his work, feels bullied into concealing his beliefs on such a widely discussed topic though.

I notice the Grayson Perry interview was carried out by Decca Aitkenhead, who also asked Hillary and Chelsea Clinton about their views on the trans stuff, and managed to elicit a kind of half-acknowledgement from Hillary that she was uncomfortable with it. I suspect Decca is gc but probably isn't going to admit it publicly either.

And yes, Grayson could speak out, but won't. I'd like to say I don't blame him, but I do a bit. He has less to lose than some poor sod sacked after one week in the job.

napody I agree with feeling the hope!

It's very clear that he is AGP but his 'Claire' persona did not take over him as a person. He's discussed this before.

He's on record now as saying Claire is a bit ruined now as she is so famous it's not the same for him being Claire as it used to be.

I agree that a stage persona is very different from the transgender issues discussed a lot on this forum.

Mrs Cattywampus I know what you mean and I am in the same position as you.

But he is clearly enjoing prodding the smug complacency of some on the left (I am a leftie too btw).... what a perfect way to do that ;) he is really influential and well liked.... I havent given up hope.

I'm sure he is TWANW and have posted that in here before. I read a Guardian Q&A about 5 years ago in which he stated that your identity is co-constructed and you cant just unilaterally declare you are something and that's that. He was being pretty clear but is obviously trying to stay out of the thick of things. . I think he also sees himself as someone who asks the questions and tries to be thought provoking rather than making simple statements of opinion. I hope he is considering being braver .... LordCopper's comment is encouraging.... maybe his conscience is starting to bother him.

He's in the art world, hotbed of wokery. He would be absolutely roasted, lose friends, lose work and be ostracised. Now I know he should on principle go ahead and get roasted, but I have some sympathy. I can't be openly GC in my field and it sucks, and yes I'm a coward but I'm a single mum with a mortgage to pay and mouths to feed, so I've had to make that decision. Perry isn't in that position but I can imagine his work life is important to him.

Whatever we'd like to happen, people actually are entitled to stay on the fence.

He can be. He chooses not to be.

A friend of mine who knows GP, claims he told JKR that he was on "her side" when they found themselves together at a function. Shame he can't be more open.