Oh, and bring Jenni Murray back
What must be the biggest LGBT UK news in years concerned Alison Bailey, a lesbian barrister, who has been allowed to sue Stonewall for allegedly strong-arming her chambers into firing her. The BBC are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, and their crack LGBT reporter Ben Hunte did his bit on a momentous day by interviewing a straght person who likes wearing women’s clothes.
As usual, it was left to feminists to tell the real news to the British public, and what it means.
…and of course the oprganisation that still represents the interests of gay people, the LGB Alliance, who live tweeted the whole thing.
(Sidenote: more and more journalists are pointing out how Oz Katerji has beclowned himself in his attacks on The LGB Alliance. It’s a beautiful thing to see.)
Anyway, my point is this. The BBC should have had a national debate on the gender issue long ago, and the reason this scandal is exploding so slowly, with information coming though bit-by-bit only thanks to the feminists Twitter hasn’t yet managed to kick off their platform, is because that venerable institution has been pointedly looking the other way, just as they have been instructed to do. We know this because the advice is the same everywhere this ideology raises its head.
But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the BBC aren’t just Stonewall’s propaganda division. In that case, as long as Ben Hunte doesn’t have any more straight people to interview tomorrow, he might grab a few words with another lesbian hero to put alongside Joanna Cherry, Julie Bindel and the late Magdalen Berns. Perhaps while Allison is fighting for the right to do her job, BBC journalists could turn over a new leaf and start to do theirs.
You can donate to Allison’s crowdfunder here.
The responses to the Stonewall twitter ad asking for London marathon fundraisers tonight is a joy to behold. Practically everyone has replied with #IStandwithAlisonBailey and some choice comments too. Maybe the tide is turning.
I asked before about writing to one of the BBC trustees I know personally through my dh. It’s a very sensitive move for me to make for various reasons. I am also struggling because of a personal tragedy as our son attempted suicide in December and has a serious brain injury. I have to balance what I can spend my energy on, but I would like to do it before they step down. My thoughts on what to write whirl around. I thought to lead with the hideous item on BBC3 affirming a young woman who adopts a furry BDSM persona to deal with her self esteem issues then move on to the trans affirming issue.
I would be very grateful if someone here would help me off list write something concise / coherent etc. My dh also works currently with a senior member of the Scot trust (owners of Guardian) , lovely person, but I think that’s a lost cause ..... I care passionately for the BBC and despair at the damage done to it.