If you continue reading through the PDF (I watched the session and it's still available) Damian Green comes back and challenged her on the nodding along and agreement with John Nicholson.
Damian Green: I want to pick up on one of the questions that John Nicolson asked. Clearly, the whole trans issue and all the arguments surrounding it are extremely sensitive, and the arguments between women who regard themselves as radical feminists and some of the trans activists get very personal and very sensitive.
Dame Melanie, you seem to agree with the proposition that anyone who disagrees with any aspect of the current, if you like, orthodox trans rights position is the equivalent of an old-fashioned racist. The most famous person who disagrees with it is JK Rowling. I find it slightly odd that a broadcasting regulator has effectively said that JK Rowling and women who think like her are the equivalent of old-fashioned racists. Is that what you are saying?
Dame Melanie Dawes: No. That mischaracterises my views considerably, if you don’t mind my saying so. What I am saying is that care needs to be taken not to cause offence. This is a very sensitive debate, absolutely, and it is one that is changing all the time, and it is very difficult to navigate. Our broadcasters do find it difficult to navigate, and what we need to do, I think, is to provide them with as much information as we can about sensible ways that they can navigate it, so that they can bring the range of views to bear but in a way that does not cause offence or needlessly step into a space where they would be making some of the mistakes you have just described.
Q681 Damian Green: You agreed with every proposition John put to you, and John brought up the thought that this is the equivalent of people who 20 years ago thought there was a balance between gay rights and anti-gay rights. He brought that explicit thing to you, and you both talked about racism as well. I would suggest that this issue needs to be dealt with with quite a lot more sensitivity.
The answer you have just given me seems perfectly sensible and appropriate but, in all seriousness and in a helpful spirit, I would suggest you go back and look at what you agreed to in your earlier evidence because, as I say, you seemed to be suggesting that women like JK Rowling are just beyond the pale. They are not allowed to enter the debate. I think that is probably an inappropriate position for a senior regulator.
Dame Melanie Dawes: I don’t think I suggested that, with the greatest of respect, and what I do think can easily happen is that voices that are providing balance in the trans debate can offend in a way that is not necessary. What I would like to achieve is for our broadcasters to have all the information they need to be able to make difficult judgments on challenging issues—apologies for using that word again—and to make sure that all the issues are aired, but in a way that does not offend people. I have not expressed a view on JK Rowling, and I certainly did not intend to.
Q682 Damian Green: Good, excellent. Let’s leave it there and move on to something that I suspect we can all agree on much more. Across the board it is agreed that regional and local broadcasting is one of the most valuable things that the BBC does. I assume Ofcom agrees with that general proposition.