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Original poster

Biased BBC article promoting Lily Madigan

56 replies

ferntwist · 01/12/2017 10:55

BBC Newsbeat reporter Michael Baggs has taken it on himself to launch Lily Madigan's career as an MP with a shockingly biased article today.

www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/42167494/lily-madigan-i-want-to-be-labours-first-transgender-mp

Anne Ruzylo is described as having been dismissed because of 'perceived transphobia' - she resigned because she was harassed for her feminism! Baggs also gets the CLP wrong. Most importantly, Anne Ruzylo is not given any right to reply.

In fact, the article doesn't interview a single feminist or a single Labour women who is concerned about males taking women's opportunities, but gives huge prominence to an unpublished letter from women who have already benefitted from the Jo Cox scheme.

Michael Baggs casts Lily as a brave battler against transphobia - entirely missing the real story here, which is that women are being bullied from speaking out against the loss of their opportunities to men.

I am absolutely gobsmacked that such a biased, unbalanced puff piece on such a divisive wannabe politician has made it onto the BBC.

Really makes you think there's something going on, doesn't it?

If you would like to complain, here's where to do it. Takes a minute.
ssl.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/?lang=en&reset=&uid=494878240

OP posts:
Original poster
ferntwist · 01/12/2017 10:57

This article needs a major re-write or to be taken down immediately. What has happened to the BBC?
I'm fuming.

OP posts:
reallybadidea · 01/12/2017 11:12

You can respond directly on Twitter too mobile.twitter.com/BBCNewsbeat?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Saying Anne Ruzylo was dismissed is libellous, surely?

LangCleg · 01/12/2017 11:18

Done:

This article is inaccurate and biased. Anne Ruzylo resigned because the level of harassment from transactivists meant she could not do her job. Her entire CLP committee also resigned in support of her. The CLP is incorrectly identified. No space has been given to the alternative, FEMINIST, viewpoint from within or without the Labour Party. Lily is not a woman under the current legislation - no GRC, no surgery, no hormones. Lily could be legally a woman if the proposed changes to the GRA become law. The Jo Cox programme is acting as if this law were already on statute. How can anyone reading understand what the argument is over if you, the public broadcaster, don't tell them?

Original poster
ferntwist · 01/12/2017 11:21

Nice one reallybad and langcleng. Damn right Anne could sue for libel - this is absolutely shocking reporting from the nation's broadcaster.

OP posts:
Datun · 01/12/2017 11:27

If anyone’s on Twitter can they tweet the BBC with Jimmy Savile‘s apprentice thing?

Thelilywhite · 01/12/2017 11:31

My husband just showed me this. He is raging. Peak peak trans. We will both complain to the BBC thanks for the info
reallybadidea

Original poster
ferntwist · 01/12/2017 11:42

Cheers Thelilywhite and MrThelilywhite

OP posts:
Nuffaluff · 01/12/2017 12:08

Gaaaaaaaaaah!
That's all I have to say.
But also that I think there are a lot of misogynists out there who love all of this because they want to put us women back in our place.

Nuffaluff · 01/12/2017 12:09

I am going to complain and I think the best way to do that will be down the 'Anne's right to reply' angle.

Thelilywhite · 01/12/2017 12:15

Both D H and I complained. Thanks ferntwist for the link and langcleg for the outline complaint.

MrGHardy · 01/12/2017 12:19

I usually just lurk here, and on twitter don't tweet either, just inform myself. But this issue is as dangerous as it is infuriating. I wrote a complaint, too, we need everyone to speak up.

mostlymindblown · 01/12/2017 12:32

I just complained too.

It is worth noting that as the article in on the Newsbeat section of the website, the target audience of the article is young people , who out of everyone need to have factual information in order to make informed choices and decisions.

As for "I'd love to get us to a point where there just isn't this transphobia, where womanhood isn't as related to biology'

I'm afraid this won't happen as womanhood is intrinsically linked to biology. As per Oxford English dictionary definition 'Definition of woman in English:

woman
NOUN

1 An adult human female.

CAAKE · 01/12/2017 12:35

This is it, isn't it? This is the end goal stated clear and plain for all to see -

"I'd love to be the first trans MP. It's about time," she says.

"I'd love to get us to a point where there just isn't this transphobia, where womanhood isn't as related to biology.

"Trans women are women. It's about time everyone recognised that".

Lily gives no fucks whatsoever about women.

reallybadidea · 01/12/2017 12:54

Oh yes, a narcissistic 19 year old with the inability to distinguish fantasy from reality is ideally qualified to be an MP

MacaroonMama · 01/12/2017 12:55

I have complained while letting a coughing toddler snooze in my lap. Win-win :-)

I wrote this, (there are too many pleases I have just realised but hey-ho...)

The whole issue of a young trans woman becoming a women's officer before any changes have been made to the 2004 GRC Act (sorry that may not be full title) is a highly contentious one. This is - genetically, biologically, hormonally and socially - a young man. A woman was also in the running for the position and has, like so many women before her, been beaten to the post by a man - but he should not have been running! Lily Madigan has had no medical treatment to suggest that a GRC would be granted, and if you look at her past twitter feeds, there is a lot on there to suggest she has no clue of what being a woman entails (think rape jokes, references to Jimmy Saville, etc). Your researchers should examine the other side to the story. It is NOT transphobic to discuss how Trans Rights Activists are threatening the spaces women need in our society, and I think you need to look carefully at this situation. Many women do not see this as a victory but as another example of men telling that they (men) are better - even at being women! You also do not look at the full story re: Anne Ruzylo (sorry have spelt wrong) and the horrid abuse she suffered at the hands of Lily and Lily's friend Adrie van dear Peer (sorry for spelling again). Please understand you have a responsibility to present two sides to the story. Please ask some women's groups or feminist networks for their perspective and use quotes to balance your article. Please understand that Lily is technically male as he has no GRC. Please know that no new Bill has been passed to make this 'okay'. It is not okay for men to tell women how to be women. Being a woman is a biological reality despite what Lily would like. Many women feel they cannot discuss this issue without having 'transphobe' or 'TERF' shouted at them. Please support women by allowing them a voice and by representing their interests as much as Lily's. I feel strongly that it is your duty to do so. Many thanks.

I like the idea of the BBC folk getting a bunch of complaints and going 'Sheeeeeeet we need to address this' Fingers crossed...

PlonitbatPlonit · 01/12/2017 13:02

There's a related thread here trying to do something to help prominent Labour women take a broader view! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3101669-A-Spartacus-letter-re-Jo-Cox-Leadership

unplugmefromthematrix · 01/12/2017 13:08

I think the article has been updated... it now has a quote from Anne, and says Lily campaigned to have her removed. Still full of nonsense facts but not as bad as before.

Good work by those who complained. Wish we could do more

NettleTea · 01/12/2017 13:24

Anne's on the case !! And a BBC correspondant actually alerted her to it!!

in the meantime www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3101669-A-Spartacus-letter-re-Jo-Cox-Leadership

Original poster
ferntwist · 01/12/2017 13:25

Fantastic work posters. Looks like the have updated with a quote from Anne Ruzylo after complaints. Still no balance overall though and no challenge to Lily Madigan's preposterous claims that womanhood should be nothing to do with biology. This is a pure promotion of her as a politician and ideologue, not what you would expect from the BBC.

OP posts:
Original poster
ferntwist · 01/12/2017 13:26

Brilliant, we have people on the inside then. Thank goodness for that as I was starting to think the BBC had been taken over by transtopia, they promote the cause so much.

OP posts:
Kitchener · 01/12/2017 13:28

BBC News is supposed to be editorially independent, and the article is anything but. They have swallowed Lily's POV without question. It's a good idea to complain.

AstraiaLiberty · 01/12/2017 13:29

I think my comment to the BBC Twitter post may have just got me put on the 'TERF Blocker' list.

Oh well. I'm in excellent company.

Fekko · 01/12/2017 13:31

I read that piece and thought it was rather pro-Lily. Glad its not just me!

Junebugjr · 01/12/2017 13:52

Complaint made.

Lancelottie · 01/12/2017 16:31

I'd love to get us to a point where womanhood isn't as related to biology.

And that, in a nutshell, is why this teenager doesn't have the first clue about how to do the job they have just taken.

If Lily disagrees that women are disadvantaged politically and financially by their biology, Lily should read a bit more widely until Lily can see why there is a need for Lil's new job.

Lil should also be aiming to represent the female-biologied people in Lil's remit, which, by any stretch of the imagination, is over 99% of them. Lily should not be devoting more than 1% at most of the job to promoting the needs of transwomen.

Do the bloody job, Lil, if you wanted it so much.