Anthony Albanese Slammed Over Anti-Trans Statement In Piers Morgan Interview
Image: Piers Morgan and Anthony Albanese. Image: Twitter
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made a controversial anti-trans statement in an interview with British television personality Piers Morgan.
In with the former TV presenter, Albanese was asked a range of questions, spanning the status of Australia鈥檚 independence, to the contentious 鈥榃hat is a woman?鈥�
鈥淎n adult female,鈥� the Prime Minister replied.
鈥淗ow difficult was that to answer?鈥� Morgan responded.
鈥淣ot too hard,鈥� the PM said, adding,聽鈥淚 was asked during the (election) campaign actually.鈥�
Albanese then said that it was “up to people to be respective and I know that 鈥� controversy can come at times like that.鈥�
The Prime Minister slammed the recent visit of anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen aka Posie Parker’s to Australia. 鈥淭here was recently a very controversial visit in Australia that was designed to stir up issues and young people coming to terms with their identity and who they are, I think they need to be respected,鈥� said Albanese.
LGBTQI Groups Slam PM
LGBTQI advocacy groups slammed the Prime Minister for failing to defend trans women.聽
“Trans and gender diverse Australians need a Prime Minister who will defend them, not one who sucks up to right-wing provocateurs,” Just.Equal Australia spokesperson, Sally Goldner, said in a statement.聽
Just.Equal called on the government to set up an advisory committee led by trans and gender-diverse people.聽
“The committee will ensure ministers across the board, from justice, through health and sport to the Prime Minister himself, understand the problems faced by trans and gender diverse Australians and what kind of policies and laws will ensure we are treated equally and inclusively,” said Goldner, who said she will write to the Prime Minister expressing its concerns and calling for an advisory committee.
Online Backlash To PM’s Comments
The PM’s comments stoked major backlash online.
鈥淎n answer to this question should just roll off the tongue. A supportive answer. And given it鈥檚 so topical he should have been drilled on it months ago,鈥� said one Twitter user.
An answer to this question should just roll off the tongue.
A supportive answer.And given it鈥檚 so topical he should have been drilled on it months ago.
鈥� 馃暞锔廽osiegirl62 (@josiegirl62)
Users pointed out Morgan’s question was an anti-trans dog whistle, used by transphobic actors as a 聽catchphrase.
鈥淣obody who knows anything about [trans people] as a political issue fails to realise that [the question] has long since been co-opted by extreme voices,鈥� a Twitter user said.
Because nobody who knows anything about it as a political issue fails to realise that 鈥渢he standard definition鈥� has long since been co-opted by extreme voices. He鈥檚 a Prime Minister, not Bambi caught in the headlights, and it was easy to guess that topic would arise.
鈥� Tabby Cat (@TThetabbycat)
鈥淚t鈥檚 disingenuous bad faith, pretending the phrase hasn鈥檛 been weaponised by a particular group as a slogan.鈥�
PM Shirks Responsibility
Albanese and Morgan delved deeper into their trans discussion, moving to the issue of trans athletes in professional sports.
鈥淲hat would you do, for example, on this issue of transgender athletes in women鈥檚 sport?鈥� asked Morgan.
The Prime Minister responded by saying that it鈥檚 up to the organisations to contend with the issue and that Australia鈥檚 鈥渟porting codes鈥� are able to 鈥渄eal with it鈥� if needed.
鈥淲hat is going on where a Prime Minister is wasting their time indulging platforms designed only to fuel hatred and bigotry,鈥� wrote a Twitter user.
Here鈥檚 the PM last year being asked the same question – what is a woman – and giving the same answer he gave on the bad UK show – it was a dumb question then, it鈥檚 even more hateful now and that the leader of our country is legitimising this is 馃珷馃珷馃珷
鈥� Amy Remeikis (@AmyRemeikis)
The Guardian鈥檚 Amy Remeikis pointed out that this is not the first time Albanese has been asked these questions, nor given the same answer, accusing the Prime Minister of further 鈥渓egitimising鈥� a 鈥渉ateful鈥� view.
Its all about Politics and the politicians lust to remain in power or, at least, in our Parliaments. Albanes is every bit as much a fence-sitter as all the others. They are all scared stiff that if they say something the wider community may turn on them. The problem for the GLBTIQ+ Community is that, though there are many of us, we have very little Political Power simply because we do not all live in the same electorates. If it were possible and all Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin and Hobart members of the GLBTIQ+ Community lived in, say, 2 electorates in each city then these vile politicians would be crawling all over themselves to attract our votes and to look after us. Just as Racism in Australia is very much alive and increasing dislike, discrimination and, yes, Fear, of the GLBTIQ+ Community is, despite decriminalistion, Same Gender Marriage, very much alive and also flourishing – particlualry amongst Australia’s Politicians from ALL sides. They do not support us and even if they did they would never be Open and Honest about their support because the Religious the bigots, and they are there in large numbers in both the ALP and the Coalition, still won’t accept any of us. The politicians to a man/woman are scared stiff that Voter backlash at the Ballot Box might destroy their chances of re-election if they say anything supportive of the GLBTIQ+ Community. Albanese is just another poliotician.
Albo is not anti-trans, and he clearly stumbled because he knew Morgan was trying to use him as a pawn in his own misguided trans-exclusionary culture war.
At any rate, how is defining a “woman” as an “adult female” trans-exclusionary? The definition makes no distinction between those born female or who transition, so this is nothing more than a beat-up written by radical activists who do more harm than good to their own cause.
By arguing about semantics that don’t really matter to people outside of the community, you’re chasing the allies way. Seriously. Wake up to yourselves.
I think that’s a complete misread of Albo’s comment. To position it as 鈥渁nti-Trans鈥� merely undermines the credibility of those making the claim. As much a Morgan employs the dog whistle, this article seems to be engaging in a bit of dog whistling itself.
Albo isn鈥檛 anti trans, he is very supportive鈥� he said, as quoted in this very article
鈥溾�� young people coming to terms with their identity and who they are, I think they need to be respected. 鈥�
Albo handled the interview really well, he answered Morgan鈥檚 loaded questions with intelligence and honesty. In fact, I think Morgan was disarmed and out-witted.
Sensible answer to a loaded question.
I think the replies have nailed it- dont go near people like Morgan, whatever you say will be twisted and used against us….
Albos comments were hardly offensive. How those comments will be twisted maybe though.
This is the same PM who waved the flag at Sydney Pride. Clearly given Albanese’s transphobic remarks and support for transgender exclusion it’s obvious Albanese didn’t march to support transgender people, and trans women in particular.
Nor is he, it appears, pro-trans. But he should be. In any case gender is not necessarily sex so the answer is plain wrong.
Yes, I agree
Nothing anti-trans about Albo. He is the most respectful PM we鈥檝e had in my generation and said 鈥榳e鈥� should all be respected. Educate all ministers for sure, but don鈥檛 attack them before they have the knowledge.
There was nothing anti Trans in that comment going on Piers Morgan was the mistake
I don’t think he should have been interviewed by Piers because he’s meh. However I don’t think what Albo said is Anti-Trans. He needs more education sure, but he’s not Anti-Trans.