Now BBC ‘silences’ Jenni Murray in transgender row
THE BBC has been accused of ‘ silencing’ freedom of speech after it warned Jenni Murray not to speak openly about controversial topics.
Dame Jenni sparked a row when she said transgender women, who have previously lived as men ‘with all the privilege that entails’, do not have the shared experience of growing up female.
Yesterday, BBC bosses said they had reminded the host of radio 4’s Woman’s Hour that she must remain neutral on ‘controversial subjects’. It followed calls for her dismissal by transgender presenter India Willoughby, who called the broadcaster a ‘dinosaur’ who used her position for ‘spouting bile’.
In the Corporation’s first formal intervention in the row, a BBC spokesman said: ‘Jenni Murray is a freelance journalist and these were her own views, however we have reminded her that presenters should remain impartial on controversial topics covered by their BBC programmes.’ Miss Willoughby was a well-known reporter on regional ITV’s Border News as a man, Jonathan, until 2010 but returned five years later after having £14,000 gender reassignment surgery.
In an article at the weekend, Dame Jenni described interviewing Miss Willoughby for Woman’s Hour, adding: ‘India held firmly to her belief that she was a “real woman”, ignoring the fact she had spent all of her life before transition enjoying the privileged position in our society generally accorded to a man.’
The comments infuriated Miss Miss Willoughby, who yesterday said: ‘Honestly, I wouldn’t wish being trans on anyone, even Jenni. “Male privilege” was never a privilege to me.’
Last night a group which aims to promote ‘ balanced’ debate on transgender issues said Dame Jenni was being ‘silenced’. Stephanie Davies- Arai, founder of Transgender Trend, said: ‘ The trans-activist campaign is so powerful that if anyone speaks out of line, in their opinion, that they are getting threats.’
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen accused the BBC of hypocrisy and pointed out Dame Jenni was encouraged to tackle contentious issues on her programme. ‘I think by telling her that she should remain neutral on controversial issues, the BBC has overstepped the mark,’ he said.
Angie Bray, another Conservative MP, said the mother-of-two should be allowed to give an honest opinion. ‘I think she is totally entitled to her views and if she wishes to express these in a personal interview, she should be able to.’
Jenni Murray: Transgender women aren’t real women From yesterday’s Mail