We seem to hear loads about transphobes (P*ers M*rgan and TERFs are forever on our timelines – STOP RETWEETING THEM) but not much about the lovely people who care about trans people and trans rights.
We all need some good news at the moment don’t we, what with turtles choking on straws and politics seemingly in constant meltdown. So we’ve done a list of fabulous people who are with the T!
Nigella Lawson
We were SO glad when we heard this, because – not to generalise – a lot of people of Nigella’s island-kitchen-unit ilk are the sort who post shitty things on mumsnet. But not Nigella! At least, not anymore. Back in the day, when she was a journalist for a newspaper called “The Times” (BOOOO!) she wrote some questionable stuff regarding trans issues. When someone pulled her up on it on Twitter, she responded “It was a long time ago – I recant and apologise.” That was in 2014. Then, in 2018, she donated $500 to the funeral of trans student Daine Grey, when his parents refused to fund it. She had no personal connection to him, it was totally out of the blue. And she never announced it publicly. Now, while it wouldn’t exactly have broken the bank for Nigella, that’s still a PROPER gesture that shows a real change of heart, empathy and solidarity. Respect.
Hermione
Well, not Hermione, because she’s a fictional character (although Hermione would totally have been a trans ally, she’d have been flyering in the Great Hall and putting on charity potion auctions). Emma Watson! Emma is very like her most famous role, in that she’s smart and very aware of the world around her. Little surprise then, that she’s a loud and proud supporter of transgender rights and in particular, helping to evolve our society’s attitude towards gender. Back in October she posted an awesome, empowering pic on Instagram (above) that spoke for itself. It was in support of the many trans and lgbt+ groups who were urging improvements to the 2004 Gender Recognition Act.
Billie Piper
We’re a bit obsessed with Billie Piper – Day & Night? Iconic! Secret Diary of a Call Girl? Iconic! Rose in Doctor Who? Iconic! She also has a great attitude towards gender and transition, a subject that Doctor Who has (tentatively) touched on a few times, especially in the latest series, which begins with the doctor “regenerating” as a woman, played by the awesome Jodie Whittaker. At FAN eXpo in 2017, a fan asked Billie if the doctor’s change in gender would affect future relationships. She gave him a withering look and said “it will always be about needing each other, regardless of whether someone is a girl or a guy.” Yes Billie!
Bruce Springsteen
An unlikely one right?! Whodathunk it. Hadley Freeman is a transphobe but Bruce Springsteen isn’t! What a weird world we live in. In 2016 he cancelled a concert in North Carolina, in protest against the state’s proposed laws to ban trans people from using bathrooms that didn’t match their “biological gender”. Literally banning people from having bodily functions. In a statement Bruce said “Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them” The law has since been undermined by federal court, and no longer stands.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton is not without her flaws. She has some questionable friends and has said some questionable things. But she’s undeniably a trans ally, so let’s just focus on that for the purposes of this article. She’s always been very casually but FIRMLY for trans rights, mentioning it on a number of occasions. Most recently in an interview with Gay Times, where she said “they’re so courageous and they inspire me. No community deserve to have their rights taken away from them, and the trans community shouldn’t be targeted with administrative regulations on their human lives. I plan to use my platform to speak out and to continue to give this community a voice.” Can’t argue with that!
Charli XCX
For those in the know, this will not be a surprise in the slightest. Charli and her music are closely linked with the trans and queer community. Her 2017 mixtape “Pop 2” was a glittering homage to alternative club culture and featured not one, not two, but THREE trans/non-binary artists (Kim Petras, Dorian Electra and Mykki Blanco). She continues to champion and give platforms to young trans creatives in her shows, music and other ventures. In true Charli XCX style she tweeted, all in caps lock, “TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS. ALWAYS AND FOREVER.”
Charlize Theron
Smouldering Hollywood darling Charlize Theron has never been particularly vocal about transgender rights – or, indeed, any rights – until last week, when she opened up about her child’s transition in an interview with The Daily Mail, of all places. For the last four years, she’s been raising her seven-year-old as a girl. “I thought she was a boy” she said. “Until she looked at me when she was three years old and said: I am not a boy! So there you go! I have two beautiful daughters.”
So that’s that. There ARE some people out there who care, and that’s encouraging. Just a side note though – during our research for this piece, we were surprised by how FEW celebrities have spoken out about trans rights. So if you’re famous and/or have some sort of public platform – do it! Speak out! It means a lot and really helps.
But there are some others, so here some HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Madonna, Cher, Margaret Cho, Anne Hathaway, Annette Bening, Ryan Murphy, Barack Obama, Theresa May (?!), Prince Phillip.
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