Channel 4's Genderquake Debate is heavily criticised/ boycotted(?) by prominent transgender activists & allies .

[R0wantrees]

Transgender campaigners and organisations have released an open letter to Channel 4 criticising Genderquake, a season of programmes touted as an exploration of the gender debate, as "counterproductive".
Signees are particularly concerned about Genderquake: The Debate, a studio discussion hosted by Cathy Newman that promises to look at what gender means in 2018. It will discuss topics including: 'what defines our gender identity', 'how that affects our rights', 'should it be easier to change gender' and 'does gender matter'.

The letter, published by indy100 in full below, argues that the debate will give legitimacy to transphobia, prejudice and the notion that trans identities are up for discussion. This concern is presumably stoked by the presence of Australian-born academic and writer Germaine Greer on the panel, who has previously said transgender women "can't be women". continues...

"The letter is published in full below and has been signed by dozens of prominent transgender and non-binary activists and campaigners - and allies - alike, including Fox Fisher, Owl, Stephanie Hirst, Juno Roche, Travis Alabanza, Kate Llewellyn, Jack Monroe and India Willoughby."

www.indy100.com/article/genderquake-the-debate-transphobia-channel-4-open-letter-campaigners-germaine-greer-8341481

This is a good thread

twitter.com/MrHistoryRob/status/993983970357497857

I'd love to know audience figures. I suspect the only people who watched already had fairly firm views.

The only thing that can really be said is (if I'm wrong) it may have made people realise the discussion is going on.

Dorade so what's new? Actually I think Germane was fine, but treated badly by interviewer. And she still thinks men with or without their bits are still men even when they wear a dress .Most of the audience and panel didn't seem to understand the word misogyny and all the men were pandered to shockingly.

Missed the start of it, but found it hugely disappointing.

Jenner, as well as being boring, is from the US - I don't feel he has anything to add to a 'debate' on the UK. Ditum was talked over within seconds of starting to speak, and I felt Newman was unable to herd the cats. OK, it's difficult, but isn't that the job of hosting such a 'debate'? She positively simpered while Jenner slowly recounted a personal anecdote which added nothing to the topic being discussed.

I think they likely specially invited the audience in order to make sure it was as one sided as the panel. Pretty much a set up for their documentary I think, and Munroe obviously felt very much like they had her backs to be demanding they remove people from the audience, I mean where have you ever, ever seen anyone ask for that on a panel show.

The fact I tweeted in advance they wouldn't cover the violent misogyny of trans activism in the section they said they would and I was right, kinda speaks to how obvious their agenda was.

That interview was really sad. GG has deteriorated. For her own sake she needs to stop doing live shows.

It would have been good if Cathy Newman had addressed why there wasn't a man (a 'man man' man) on the panel. It was billed as a discussion on gender - not 'are transwomen women?' after all.

ElendonOne of my favourite videos of all time , very cheering to see it again. Love GG. Required watching!

There did seem to be the usual over representation of celebrity transwomen.

I found it a bizarre set up altogether.
I spotted a few people I knew, from political activities, in the past.
One was an older person, who worked so hard for Press for Change, before S.W took the helm. She would have been brilliant instead of CJ.
That's if it were a proper discussion though, not this rambling rubbish we were subjected to.

What a monumental disappointment.

The GC women in the audience must have been misled, thought they would have a chance to speak.
What on earth was the point in them being there.
Unless to provoke them and show them in a bad light?

Cathy Newman has plummeted in my estimation; how can she or CH4 pretend that that was a balanced debate?

Or any kind of debate really.

Sarah did make some good points but was talked over or cut off every time.

Oh god, that made-up mosque thing was appalling.

Thank you for the welcome I look forward to joining in more (not tonight, its bedtime!).

I went to sign the petition then found out I'd already signed it

Badger Channel 4 used to have a late night discussion show called After Dark.......................maybe GG thought this show was going to be done in a similar way.

LET MUNROE SPEAK! PLEASE, SARAH, LET MUNROE SPEAK!!!

Badger Channel 4 used to have a late night discussion show called After Dark.......................maybe GG thought this show was going to be done in a similar way.

Late night shows used to be more smoke filled room after the pub had closed sort of affairs. (Sometimes with the smoking)

I don't want to see conspiracy theories everywhere but..

..carefully selected audience + free bar for audience = ??

Did anyone hear the “heckling?”

I don’t hear anything.

Terribly disappointing. If I didn't have a clue I still wouldn't have a clue. Had a great discussion with DH afterwards though. We hadn't discussed it before but when I explained what's been going on he got it immediately and straight away made all the points about sports and spaces and women's rights and teenagers bodies... My DH is not a radical feminist. He's not even a feminist. It's according to him 'just common sense'. Common sense.

Was shocked to find out so many young girls want to FTM I agree with SD that its highly likely to be due to sexual harassment but there is also the underlying sexism coming from schools .............we still see threads on here about how the girls skirts must not be too short or they will "distract" the boys.

I remember a post in Relationships where an MNer was asked by the school what SHE was going to do about the fact that her DH wasnt bringing their DC into school on time.

Schools are still giving out sexist messages.

I experienced misogynistic bullying in high school in the 80s because my mum wouldnt let me shave my legs. Im willing to bet that these days its much much worse.

I think it is likely more multifaceted than this but these things ive mentioned wont be helping matters.

My DH was straight there on the boardroom diversity - not enough women - make the numbers up by ????????

I heard heckling happening but not any specific words.

I wish they been louder and clearer.

I think I saw Posie shaking her head and face palming at one point.

Wayyyyyyyy back in 1996 Channel 4 had a night about abortion They showed the film If These Walls Could Talk , a documentary about a clinic in Sheffield where they provided an abortion pill and an edition of After Dark where they were were discussing these issues They had just started to discuss Norplant (which i was on at the time) and the bloody video recorder stopped recording I was really pissed off at the time.

They needed a question time structure. 4 panellists questions from the audience and fair time for responses.

This was pointless crap.
Shame on channel 4, I'll be complaining.

CN really Let women down, simpering over natal males and letting them dominate the discussion. She should look back at it through that prism.

She's all feminist until some 'former' men are now more important.

Fucking hell Cathy how do you not see this??