Eddie Izzard defends JKR

"If they call me 'she' and 'her,' that's great - or 'he' and 'him,' I don't mind. I prefer to be called Eddie, that covers everything. I'm gender fluid

well I mean, thats great that he's relaxed about it but how does that translate to real life?

If Eddie is fine to be referred to as he or she what does that mean for Eddie wanting to be in female designated spaces? Does that mean men can just decide that that particular day they wish to be a "she" and so therefore are entitled to go into women's changing rooms? how are women supposed to react to this? how are women supposed to know that individual changes their mind when they feel like it? how are women meant to feel safe knowing that any man can just decide to be a "she" that day and enter their safe space?

Its one thing to adopt the full identity of a woman, its another thing entirely to switch around when it suits you and it means women are being placed at great risk. But as usual, noone gives AF because as long as "men" are catered for, thats the most important thing isnt it? urgh

But once you start using wrong-sex pronouns for someone who doesn't conform to the stereotypes for their sex, you're reinforcing the stereotypes by saying that a masculine woman is somehow 'male'.

This sums up the whole problem with transgender ideology.

The second that you start using 'woman' or 'girl' or 'she' to describe a human, purely based on the fact that human wears lipstick/dresses/nail varnish/heels, you immediately perpetuate the stereotype that those things are only for females.

Well, this settles that despite his grand announcement of being in girl mode everyone still thinks he’s a man - he’s not getting attacked or called a witch on twitter for supporting jkr.

I'm now more annoyed with Eddie than I was at any point on the previous thread after the she/her announcement.

So good going there, Eddie.

"Women have been through such hell over history. Trans people have been invisible, too.

"I hate the idea we are fighting between ourselves, but it's not going to be sorted with the wave of a wand.

"Fighting between ourselves". Neat conflation of women and trans people as one group whose aims should agree and who should be pulling together.

Piss off, Eddie.

I hate the idea we are fighting between ourselves, but it's not going to be sorted with the wave of a wand

Doubtless naive of me, but I interpreted this statement as referring to men fighting between themselves over the dismantling/appropriation/colonisation of female rights.

Shows just how 'coded' my brain is to recognising sex. I did not see myself (ie woman) included in his "between ourselves" statement.

I always go back to medium.com/@MichaelConroy68/my-first-day-out-by-eddie-izzard-c8ff9bcae245 when I read about Eddie Izzard's courage (and beauty, natch.)

Then I remember that in 1985, it was ok to call out a man in a woman's public lavatory, because he was not meant to be there even if he was dressed as a woman at the time. Happy days. Women were safer when that boundary still existed. (Though I bet each of those three girls was really glad she wasn't in there on her own.)

Male oppressor saying that male oppression of women is just us “fighting between ourselves”.

It's so insulting. Eddie Izzard has benefitted from white male privilege his entire career. Eddie has reached the top in a profession in which women still struggle to achieve anything like the sort of exposure Eddie has had. How dare Eddie appropriate women's struggle, by making statements like that Eddie makes it clear that Eddie understands nothing of it.

Male oppressor saying that male oppression of women is just us “fighting between ourselves”. Complete denial of the actual dynamic. Pretty vile, actually.

Though I do welcome anyone in the public eye defending JK in any way - and I will await with interest the Twitterati reaction to his comments!

Eddie has political ambitions. Eddie is trying to please everyone. Eddie is not sincere in anything that comes out of his mouth.

Why didn’t he speak up at the height of the JKR ‘attacks’?!?!
Clever he may be, but he’s all over the place with this ‘gender’ stuff.

Don't want to be too much of a misery guts, but I'm a bit dismayed that it takes a man (Note to lurkers: "gender fluid" doesn't mean "changed sex") to say something in support of JKR and not be villified or sent death/rape threats, or lose their job ...

but why are we going through hell on this?"

maybe it is because of blokes who like to swan into womens toilets then congratulate themselves about bravely squaring up to teenage girls who had the audacity to challenge them?

If you are male, you use male or unisex loos. If you are female, you use female or unisex loos. Regardless of gender reassignment.

Men need to learn how to accept trans women as fellow males. It's not women who need to accept that trans women are females. Your biological sex ought to determine your use of public facilities. KEEP FEMALES SAFE!

Mugwump is a useful word I learnt recently.

I’m gender fluid. Your brain gets coded male or female when you’re young. Mine got coded both ways

So did mine. But this is not through genetics! It's through environment. Until there is undeniable scientific proof that gender (note: not sex) fluidity is biological, I will sing this on the rooftops!

but why are we going through hell on this?"

maybe it is because of blokes who like to swan into womens toilets then congratulate themselves about bravely squaring up to teenage girls who had the audacity to challenge them?

People who deny, degrade and devalue the FEMALE experience are amongst the most bigoted persons you will ever come across... I also don't care what anyone says to the contrary.

He makes my skin crawl.
Simple as.

I’m gender fluid. Your brain gets coded male or female when you’re young. Mine got coded both ways

I wish someone would point out to Eddie that what he's doing is rebelling against incredibly strict, artificial masculine stereotypes and not having a brain "coded male and female".

Many, many women are comfortable in dresses/heels/make up and trainers/jeans/short hair styles and regularly switch between the two. It's not because our brains are "coded male and female", it's because feminists fought for that to be socially acceptable. What we need is a proper movement pushing for greater acceptance of effeminate men. Men having to claim some kind of female brain in order to wear skirts and nail polish ain't it.

But once you start using wrong-sex pronouns for someone who doesn't conform to the stereotypes for their sex, you're reinforcing the stereotypes by saying that a masculine woman is somehow 'male'.

@OldCrone Agreed. This pronouns business is a load of hogwash. I refuse to be referred to as 'they'. It's dehumanising.

I've found that those who insist on being addressed by their preferred pronouns and the people who lobby for it, also lack self-respect by the way they conduct themselves, ironically. They're also more likely to lose MY respect because the way in which they degrade and devalue the female experience.

I thought your pander to the penis comment was spot on.

That's why JKR was called a bitch, cunt, disowned by the actors whose careers she made, and was threatened with credible threats of violence. All because she doesn't have a penis.

If she did she could talk all kinds of nonsense and still be celebrated.