Eddie Izzard - Guardian interview

[StoneColdAlibi]

The Guardian have just posted an invitation to put questions to Eddie Izzard. This feels like a great opportunity to get a well worded, gender critical question out there. The thing is I'm a bit stuck, collectively we must be able to come up with something though!

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/oct/09/post-your-questions-for-eddie-izzard

Why does declaring yourself as trans automatically seem to come with some sort of magical force field that protects you from any form of criticism, wrongdoing or any negative remark, warranted or not.

Why have they shifted the goal posts? Were they struggling to keep up with deleting any questions that actually might have been interesting? Comments were invited up to tomorrow and now they've already closed it.

What a sycophantic, inane set of questions we are left with.

I don't know about "magical force fields" but it comes with protection from harassment on account of gender reassignment as enshrined in the Equalities Act, which is close enough.

Does criticism for behaviour count as harassment then?

I don't know about "magical force fields" but it comes with protection from harassment on account of gender reassignment as enshrined in the Equalities Act, which is close enough.

Supposedly so does being a woman. And it's "Equality Act".

Equality Act, apologies, it's late.

And yes obviously women too. Harrassing women is bad. Harrassing trans people is bad. It's not a zero sum game is it?

Who is "harassing trans people"? 🙄

Well clearly because they are transphobic. If everyone could embrace trans there would be no division of the sexes.
I’m guessing.

Let's look at Eddie Izzard harassing women by using female only toilets. Maybe many women aren't going to be particularly warm towards him.

I didn't accuse you of being transphobic, I said the collective effect of mulitple comments can appear transphobic.

Though I think it's a bit disingenuous to hide behind the "but isn't it just factually accurate?" excuse. If I walk into work wearing a short skirt and someone says "that's a very short skirt you're wearing!" the fact it's accurate doesn't discount the possibility of it being a sexist comment.

Could you articulate your issue with the comment likening him to Ursula please?

That was what you reacted to. Don't hide behind vague "perceptions".

@PikachuEars but surely laughing at the fact Eddie looks like Ursula is only mean if you consider Ursula to be in some way offensive. She’s an overweight, middle aged woman with a lot of make up. Is that not exactly the look Eddie has gone for? Why is Ursula the unacceptable comparison. Surely the fact she looks him is the more offensive comment.

( Are you doing the steel planning thing? 😉)

Is it really that hard? Thread asks for a "well worded gender critical question" to pose to Eddie and within two pages (amongst various other fairly viciously worded comments that are at least to some extent engaging with the question) there's there's three or four snide comments about Eddie's appearance.

If it were a thread on "which celebs look like Disney characters?" then fair do I suppose. But in this context it just looks like having a cheap pop. Maybe people would have made the same jokes about the old "action transvestive" incarnation of Eddie but I can't see it somehow.

Transvestive? Transvestite! It really is too late for this..

"Viciously worded"

So has Eddie acquired the protected characteristic of gender reassignment by saying he is in girl mode, putting on a face of slap and a dress? I think I missed a page.

Are you planning on touring Afghanistan any time soon?

I said the collective effect of mulitple comments can appear transphobic.

Given it’s possible to “appear transphobic” by taking a photo of a sticker, I don’t think “appear transphobic” is a) meaningful or b) something I would give a toss about.

I mean people have told me I am transphobic, not appearing to be transphobic, because I don’t want children to be sterilised. So “appear transphobic” is even less of a concern to me. C’est la vie.

The Guardian has always been my newspaper of choice. I'm so disappointed in their level of control here over questions.

I know they have always had their own agendas of course, as do all newspapers, but somehow I'm a bit shocked by this.

The likening of Izzard to Ursula does tickle me.

There is a fairly well-established understanding that Ursula's appearance was based on Divine, a drag queen actor who worked regularly with John Waters.

So Izzard's 'look' is closer to that of a hyper-exaggerated drag queen than the 'woman' he's aiming for.

oh for heaven’s sake

this man wants to be in a position of power. He already clearly has some influence within the Labour Party

making fun of people in power is good for them. Otherwise you get Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong Un and Izzard do share the belief of their divine rights to barge in any bogs that take their fancy.

Although, to be fair to Kim Jong Un, he sticks to the gents lavvy when checking out his hair and makeup.

@PikachuEars If you perceive observations as being possibly transphobic then I think the problem lies with your perceptions. I think I am more justified in thinking the effect of your observations are to cause you to appear as a trans rights activist whose sole purpose on these boards is to scold other posters. As I'm sure that is not your intention, you may want to lay off the accusations of transphobia.

Or use the sink……