LGBTQ+ advocates ask Bette Midler to ‘do better’ following tweet that ‘demonises trans people’
The Hocus Pocus star and gay icon was met with outrage and disappointment from LGBTQ+ fans and famous folk alike for excluding trans and non-binary people in a post about abortion rights.
In the post in question, which is still up on her page, Midler not only excluded trans and non-binary people from the message, but adopted language often used by anti-trans and right-wing groups in political circles to incite fear and inaccuracies about some kind of ‘trans agenda’ out to erase cis women.
In a message to her 2.1million followers, Midler said: ‘WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name!
She then goes on to say, ‘They don’t call us “women” anymore; they call us “birthing people” or “menstruators”, and even “people with vaginas” – aggressions many LGBTQ+ people will be unpleasantly familiar with, having had the notion of gender-inclusive language (statistically an amazing thing) ridiculed so frequently in the media.
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the legislation that secures American’s, under federal protections, safe access to abortions, trans and non-binary people (safe to say, already not the most politically protected people in society) have had to endure being largely erased from the conversation.
The real consequence of that erasure is that trans and non-binary people can be denied essential information relating to their care, improper service signposting, and other factors vital to their safety.
Whereas inclusive language in healthcare helps keeps people safe by making services more accessible for all with shared experiences.
Writing for Independent, Eleanor Morgan said: “If I identify as part of a minority community, assumptions from healthcare providers about my personal characteristics may make me feel shamed, embarrassed or anxious. This creates an active health risk, if a problem is missed because I am afraid of asking for help again. I know LGBT+ people who have been afraid. As a lesbian with, shall we say, a “complex” gynecological history, I haven’t. But I have felt shame and disappointment.”
As one Bette Midler fan, who is trans, pointed out, “including trans men in the conversation about reproductive health does not harm women”
No. Don’t fall for the anti-trans panic fake nonsense. No one is erasing women. In a few small healthcare cases where appropriate they are using trans inclusive language. That’s all.
— Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera (@PantiBliss) July 4, 2022
Re the Bette Midler thing:
Trans people aren’t to blame for abortion bans. It’s Republicans, the Religious Right, and the Gender Critical movement – who as usual, are spinning a good yarn. Please stop watching @FoxNews @BetteMidler pic.twitter.com/ikcI6FeuOl— India Willoughby (@IndiaWilloughby) July 4, 2022
The fight for women’s rights INCLUDES trans people – trans rights do not erode women’s rights. We’re all fighting this together and this trans-exclusionary rhetoric does NOTHING to help that.
Bette Midler is a woman. Some other people who give birth are not women. That’s ok! https://t.co/i4IUzNpcTh
— Crystal | Black Lives Matter (@crystalwillseeu) July 4, 2022
Here’s @BetteMidler showing how to lose your status as an LGBT+ icon in a single tweet, by parroting a Right-Wing transphobic talking point. pic.twitter.com/drq54v0JTj
— Aidan Comerford (@AidanCTweets) July 4, 2022
Oh God. Not Bette Midler falling for the anti-trans panic nonsense https://t.co/vmMuXiXage
— Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera (@PantiBliss) July 4, 2022
Really disappointed in this as a trans man and a Bette Midler fan.
Bette, including trans men in the conversation about reproductive health does not harm women. We have the same organs, and even greater vulnerability, as cis woman.
— Evan Urquhart (@e_urq) July 4, 2022
Trans people aren’t the reason abortion is banned, @BetteMidler. And that ten year old who had to travel to Indiana for an abortion? She isn’t a woman.
Including all people who can get pregnant does nothing to lessen your womanhood and it’s outright absurd for you to claim so.
— ⚓️Imani Two-Kitchens Gandy⚓️ (@AngryBlackLady) July 4, 2022
Bette, this is disappointing to see from you. These are terms we use to include trans men and non-binary people who can get pregnant. It is absurd and dangerous to be lumping attempts at trans inclusivity in with right wing attempts to control our bodies as threats
— Louisa 🌈👭 (@LouisatheLast) July 4, 2022
This isnt true. xxx
— Siobhán McSweeney (@siobhni) July 4, 2022
It’s not the first time fans have questioned Midler’s stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The actress was forced to make a public apology to Caitlyn Jenner in 2016 when, following the cancelation of Jenner’s reality series, I Am Cait, Midler shared a since-deleted tweet asking whether reality star would ‘go back to [Caitlyn’s deadname]’ and remarry ex-wife Kris Jenner.