Cheryl Hole on LGBTQ representation

Thanks for your persistence.

Are they actually starting from the premise that Cheryl Hole is a real person and a woman, with a woman's anatomy?!

No, I think they're confused about drag and trying to be terribly PC and disappearing up their own bottoms. They're not seeing it as just a stage persona, nor the same kind of stage persona as any other.

God, I hadn't even thought of that. Are they actually starting from the premise that Cheryl Hole is a real person and a woman, with a woman's anatomy?!

Well, if you were very confused, so confused that you've bought in to the idea that the artiste really is a woman and is not just someone celebrating or parodying women, then I guess you could make the BBC argument. Maybe.

But I'd be surprised if they apply the same argument to a white person who wears blackface on stage and goes by the stage name NameOfFamousBlackPerson N* (fill in the gaps). I don't quite see how that would be self mocking but maybe the BBC could enlighten us. Or Ofcom.

And well done for persistence @MarkWithaC I'd given up.

I know. If he went round calling himself Luke Underwood-Hole, then sure.

Well, quite. I wonder how much and to what scenarios the BBC apply it. I'l be putting that in my pointless Ofcom complaint.

my interpretation that the name of the artist is by definition offensive and demeaning is not accepted by the artist themselves.

An interesting basis for a judgement. How would that work if applied more generally, I wonder?

(If anyone still cares) I got a response from the Executive Complaints Unit, having exhausted the initial BBC complaints procedure

Short version: there is no breach of standards, because my interpretation that the name of the artist is by definition offensive and demeaning is not accepted by the artist themselves. And Cheryl Tweedy/Cole herself apparently finds it flattering.
Full version below.
I'm going to have to contact Ofcom, aren't I? Otherwise I'm just giving up. Which is what they want.

'Thank you for your email to the Executive Complaints Unit, in which you raised your concerns about the inclusion of the drag queen Cheryl Hole in the above programme. You say their name is a “crude reference to women’s genitalia” via a word commonly used by misogynists to refer to women in a sexual sense, and is therefore inappropriate for inclusion in the show.
This unit considers complaints that BBC output has failed to meet the standards set out in the editorial guidelines. Those which are most relevant to your concerns are the guidelines on Harm and Offence/Portrayal, which say BBC output may reflect, but should not perpetuate, prejudice.
I have reviewed the programme with this and your complaint in mind. I appreciate you consider the name of the drag artist is by definition offensive and seeks to demean women. However, as you may know, that is not accepted by the artist themselves, who considers their work celebratory rather than mocking or objectifying. I appreciate you do not consider their rationale is relevant to your concerns, but it is also a fact that the act for whom they are named, Cheryl Tweedy (formerly Cheryl Cole) did not apparently perceive it as you did but considered herself flattered by their act and choice of name. While I can see it is open to the interpretation you have placed on it, it might reasonably be argued the second word (and any sexualisation connected with it) refers to the drag artist, who has previously made comedic references along those lines, rather than to Ms Tweedy. That would seem to reflect their self-mocking humour. I recognise you consider it a matter of fact this must refer to a woman’s body, but in light of the above it seems to me this falls some way short of being definitively sexist/objectifying. The fact a misogynist may use the word in the manner you set out does not show this is what happened here.
I hope this explains why, although I am sorry for the offence caused to you, it does not seem to me their inclusion in the programme would serve to perpetuate prejudice against women, which is the test set out in the guidelines. I do not therefore believe you have identified a breach of standards.'

Why have the BBC used feminine pronouns? AFAIK Luke Underwood-Bleach doesn't pretend he's actually a woman or "living as a woman".

Yes the one I eventually got evaded the issue:

…We appreciate you taking the time to read the article and share your thoughts with us.

The focus of our report is on comments made by Cheryl, her spokesperson and the BBC, in response to negative reaction and abuse direct towards her for appearing on Celebrity MasterChef.

Whilst we appreciate your concerns around comparisons to Dame Edna and Lily Savage, and reference to drag in mainstream entertainment, these were the words of Cheryl Hole’s spokesperson and they’re presented as such.

Nonetheless, we acknowledge you may continue to object to their inclusion in our report.

???

Well, so far they've steadfastly avoided even mentioning the name issue, despite that being the headline of my complaint to them.
We'll see.

My money is on the definition of legal name changes and how the bbc does not regulate the legality of people's names.

Yes. I really want them to wheel out the stuff about boys playing women in Elizabethan times too.

And pantomime, no doubt.

I'm hoping for a lecture on the history of drag too

Great follow-up.

A squilionty pounds for a holding email or complete miss if the point reply (brucie bonus points for ‘diversity and inclusion’ mentioned).

Finally got a reply.
'Celebrity MasterChef has a tradition of inviting a variety of celebrities onto the show. Diversity and inclusion is a core part of the BBC and we’re committed to reflecting and representing the diversity of the UK across all of our output.

The culture of drag has featured prominently on mainstream TV over the years and drag artists have featured before on Celebrity MasterChef. The full range of contestants has helped reflect greater representation and Cheryl’s inclusion wasn’t new. We have a great array of contestants take part in Series 18 and we fully support Cheryl with her participation in the programme.'

So, waffle.

I've responded:

'Your reply fails to address my actual point: Cheryl Hole's name. I hoped not to have to spell it out but it seems I do: the word 'hole' is commonly used in a derogatory way to reduce women to their sexual anatomy (vagina) and perceived role (for men to penetrate for sexual gratification). This person being called Cheryl as opposed to (say) Charles Hole, being named in reference to a famous person who is a woman, and being a man who dresses and presents as a woman, makes very clear that it is definitely women's 'holes' that are being referred to. Please can you explain a) how in the BBC's estimation it is acceptable for this overt misogyny to be broadcast, b) how an adult watching the show with a child might explain the name and c) why the BBC feels it is acceptable to put either adults or children in the position of potentially having to.'

Anyone fancy running a book on how likely I am to get a response?

I got that message two Christmases ago. They never did write back.

Let's hope that means loads of people have complained

I complained to the BBC and got the usual acknowledgment. Today have further email

This is an update to apologise to you that although we normally aim to reply to most complaints within 2 weeks, we are currently dealing with a higher than normal volume of cases. This means it will take a little longer to reply to you at present. We hope you understand that this is why we are unable to respond within our normal service times.

Of course it may simply mean that people are on holiday so they’ve fallen behind…

But that is what makes it doubly offensive to my mind. Although I find it less offensive when done by a woman. Not better, mind, just less offensive.

I'm going to try to explain.

Femininity is a social construction.

And it is a social construction which is fundamental to the subjugation of girls and women. Femininity is a collection of imposed customs and behaviours which designate females as the inferior sex class in society.

Femininity is not femaleness or girlhood or womanhood but it is what male dominated society demands from us in order to both inferiorise us and for us to demonstrate our submissive capitulation to that inferiorisation.

In other words, it's deeply sexist and very political.

Therefore a man (or a woman) "performing" (or parodying or imitating or "celebrating") femininity as some form of light entertainment is deeply political and rooted in profound sexism. Whether the performer intends it to be or not.

And it's fundamentaly offensive when done by men (because it mocks female oppression) and deeply sad when done by women (because it mocks our own oppression).

I suppose in theory it would be possible for a very switched on woman to parody drag as a parody of sexism and somehow make a feminist point but I think it would be more effecient and clear to just call out drag for the misogyny it is in the misogynistic society it occurs in...

Interesting article, thanks arabella.
Quote from Victoria Sin echoes what I have posted on here over the years:

"What’s important to make clear is that, for me, drag is not performing a woman, drag is performing femininity,” says Sin. A person can be a woman and not be at all feminine, they say.

I appreciate anyone making the effort to disentangle the two. (I am unclear if this has anything to do with them identifying as non binary)