Graham Linehan

[splinterdream]

On 02/09/2025 at 20:05, leicsmac said:

Yes, and I wonder if we'll see if everyone understands that nuance enough to make that distinction consistently when gross generalisations and such incitement designed to appeal to prejudices and lead to violence is ubiquitous in the digital world. 

 

My money would be on not. 

I think its ridiculous to think you can police free speech, just in case someone reads it and takes it literally. Imo, trans people aren't the issue, im sure we'd all agree each to their own, its the lobby thats sought to trump the rights of others thats been the issue for people like linehan, invading women's spaces etc

[splinterdream]

5 hours ago, leicsmac said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0x2kx08wdo

 

Quite apart from being met by five armed fuzz coming off a plane, here's some more enlightening stuff Mr Linehan has been up to. 

Have you seen the history of the complainant? 

[Grebfromgrebland]

I don't see the issue, if someone is using a toilet cubicle it doesn't matter what but they have, what make up they wear and what clothes they wear. 

 

This whole debate has been concocted by the extreme right wing parties, right wing media and idiots online.

 

It's a non issue coded by lies and misinformation.

 

This is what reform says they would fight the election on and the whole country dances to their tune. 

 

This way we don't discuss issues that really matter.

Edited 4 September 2025 by Grebfromgrebland

[leicsmac]

19 minutes ago, splinterdream said:

I think its ridiculous to think you can police free speech, just in case someone reads it and takes it literally. Imo, trans people aren't the issue, im sure we'd all agree each to their own, its the lobby thats sought to trump the rights of others thats been the issue for people like linehan, invading women's spaces etc

And were they not all of the post here would be fine.

 

Unfortunately, it seems like there are a rather large amount of people who disagree with that sentiment and are not shy about expressing it either verbally or physically.

 

17 minutes ago, splinterdream said:

Have you seen the history of the complainant? 

I've seen the Telegraph's version of it, which means I'm going to reserve judgement there.

 

In any case, IMO this is merely a facet of a larger matter where people are actively seeking the freedom to harass, abuse and in some cases visit violence upon an incredibly marginalised group of people.

[ClaphamFox]

27 minutes ago, splinterdream said:

Have you seen the history of the complainant? 

The complainant who got Linehan arrested at Heathrow is a disgraced ex-police officer who was sacked for gross misconduct and who routinely uses the police to harass people he disagrees with. Meanwhile, the alleged victim in Linehan’s court case today admitted in court to publicly stating that he wished a woman who disagreed with him to have acid thrown in her face. Both of the above individuals are men who abuse and harass women. 
 

I’m as certain as I can be that the Heathrow arrest will not result in a charge, and I think there’s a strong chance that the court case will not result in a conviction. Then hopefully at some point the penny will drop that allowing a small and deeply disturbed cohort of individuals, who falsely believe themselves to represent their ‘community’, to weaponise the police force in this way is not a good idea. 

Edited 4 September 2025 by ClaphamFox

[splinterdream]

10 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

And were they not all of the post here would be fine.

 

Unfortunately, it seems like there are a rather large amount of people who disagree with that sentiment and are not shy about expressing it either verbally or physically.

 

I've seen the Telegraph's version of it, which means I'm going to reserve judgement there.

 

In any case, IMO this is merely a facet of a larger matter where people are actively seeking the freedom to harass, abuse and in some cases visit violence upon an incredibly marginalised group of people.

The trans lobby have been very well known as being very aggresive to those who differ in their opinions. 

You will always have conflicts with opinions on religion and sex no matter what you do, but most people are liberal minded, they cease to do so when you get the lobbying. I just dont see these people as marginalised, what rights dont trans people have? If its the right to be in women only spaces, get women's health checks etc, then that just cant happen

[splinterdream]

19 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

The complainant who got Linehan arrested at Heathrow is a disgraced ex-police officer who was sacked for gross misconduct and who routinely uses the police to harass people he disagrees with. Meanwhile, the alleged victim in Linehan’s court case today admitted in court to publicly stating that he wished a woman who disagreed with him to have acid thrown in her face. Both of the above individuals are men who abuse and harass women. 
 

I’m as certain as I can be that the Heathrow arrest will not result in a charge, and I think there’s a strong chance that the court case will not result in a conviction. Then hopefully at some point the penny will drop that allowing a small and deeply disturbed cohort of individuals, who falsely believe themselves to represent their ‘community’, to weaponise the police force in this way is not a good idea. 

That's the bigger picture for most; who are the police, who is running them and what are they out to achieve, because it certainly isnt as Peel intended 

[leicsmac]

5 minutes ago, splinterdream said:

The trans lobby have been very well known as being very aggresive to those who differ in their opinions. 

You will always have conflicts with opinions on religion and sex no matter what you do, but most people are liberal minded, they cease to do so when you get the lobbying. I just dont see these people as marginalised, what rights dont trans people have? If its the right to be in women only spaces, get women's health checks etc, then that just cant happen

Institutionally marginalised? No, not so much any more, thanks to government actually stepping up there, though I'm sure there's work to be done.

 

Marginalised from the point of view of being viewed and acted against negatively as a minority group by the public, like other parts of the LGBT community and likely more so than those other parts? Absolutely.

 

I've said before though that I am not impartial on this one, I have a personal stake in the matter and as such I very much come down on one side of it and want people who abuse trans people to answer for it in as thorough a fashion as possible.

[Spudulike]

29 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

I don't see the issue, if someone is using a toilet cubicle it doesn't matter what but they have, what make up they wear and what clothes they wear. 

 

This whole debate has been concocted by the extreme right wing parties, right wing media and idiots online.

 

It's a non issue coded by lies and misinformation.

 

This is what reform says they would fight the election on and the whole country dances to their tune. 

 

This way we don't discuss issues that really matter.

I'm making the assumption that you are male. The two most important people in my life are women who are both freaked out that men dressed as women might be entering female toilets and changing rooms.

[ClaphamFox]

1 minute ago, leicsmac said:

Institutionally marginalised? No, not so much any more, thanks to government actually stepping up there, though I'm sure there's work to be done.

 

Marginalised from the point of view of being viewed and acted against negatively as a minority group by the public, like other parts of the LGBT community and likely more so than those other parts? Absolutely.

 

I've said before though that I am not impartial on this one, I have a personal stake in the matter and as such I very much come down on one side of it and want people who abuse trans people to answer for it in as thorough a fashion as possible.

Do you want extremist trans activists who threaten, abuse and harass other people to answer for it in equal fashion?

[leicsmac]

16 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

Do you want extremist trans activists who threaten, abuse and harass other people to answer for it in equal fashion?

If it's proven in a court of law, absolutely. Equality under the law.

 

However I would take issue with any inference that those are a bigger problem than the abuse and threats that trans people have to deal with (unless such a thing is categorically and empirically provable, which I doubt). 

 

Additionally, I'm not sure if there is a distinction towards abuse directed as a person because of what they do, and abuse directed at a person because of what they are, which is the case here.

 

Edit: toned down the tone a bit. 

Edited 4 September 2025 by leicsmac

[Grebfromgrebland]

16 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

I'm making the assumption that you are male. The two most important people in my life are women who are both freaked out that men dressed as women might be entering female toilets and changing rooms.

Changing rooms are completely different but toilets are a non issue.

 

There's also unisex changing rooms that work really well in Leicester at the everyone active gyms.

 

The hysteria is off the scale.

 

But I guess there's a lot of 'conerned parents' around right now.

[leicsmac]

And, to add to comments that have been seen elsewhere, it would be nice if people could treat every other human being as... well, exactly that and not go in for these ridiculous divisions and generalisations based on demographic rather than deed. 

[splinterdream]

24 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Institutionally marginalised? No, not so much any more, thanks to government actually stepping up there, though I'm sure there's work to be done.

 

Marginalised from the point of view of being viewed and acted against negatively as a minority group by the public, like other parts of the LGBT community and likely more so than those other parts? Absolutely.

 

I've said before though that I am not impartial on this one, I have a personal stake in the matter and as such I very much come down on one side of it and want people who abuse trans people to answer for it in as thorough a fashion as possible.

I think stonewall and the govt, and that coming from the US has probably made it worse, all I know is I used to frequent a gay/mixed club 25 years ago and all was cool. I think when people are told what to think, they'll naturally rebel against it.

The fundemental point is though, that the lobby went too far, allowing anyone to identify as what they like so able to get access to women's spaces, pronouns into law with cancelling anyone who disagrees, children being involved with puberty blockers, I dont believe that was in the interest of the trans community and probably not what the majority of them wanted. Tell you what though, cant beat raving in a gay club back in the day 😁

[Spudulike]

5 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

Changing rooms are completely different but toilets are a non issue.

 

There's also unisex changing rooms that work really well in Leicester at the everyone active gyms.

 

The hysteria is off the scale.

 

But I guess there's a lot of 'conerned parents' around right now.

I'd take issue at your assertion this is being driven by the Far right. The Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife case disproves this. 

[leicsmac]

3 minutes ago, splinterdream said:

I think stonewall and the govt, and that coming from the US has probably made it worse, all I know is I used to frequent a gay/mixed club 25 years ago and all was cool. I think when people are told what to think, they'll naturally rebel against it.

The fundemental point is though, that the lobby went too far, allowing anyone to identify as what they like so able to get access to women's spaces, pronouns into law with cancelling anyone who disagrees, children being involved with puberty blockers, I dont believe that was in the interest of the trans community and probably not what the majority of them wanted. Tell you what though, cant beat raving in a gay club back in the day 😁

I'm just going to go with the sentiment I expressed above and leave it at that tbh. 

[Jon the Hat]

7 hours ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

I don't see the issue, if someone is using a toilet cubicle it doesn't matter what but they have, what make up they wear and what clothes they wear. 

 

This whole debate has been concocted by the extreme right wing parties, right wing media and idiots online.

 

It's a non issue coded by lies and misinformation.

 

This is what reform says they would fight the election on and the whole country dances to their tune. 

 

This way we don't discuss issues that really matter.

Lots of women disagree with you completely and given it is their toilets and showers we are talking about, I do think perhaps we should shut up and listen.

[The Horse's Mouth]

11 hours ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

I don't see the issue, if someone is using a toilet cubicle it doesn't matter what but they have, what make up they wear and what clothes they wear. 

 

This whole debate has been concocted by the extreme right wing parties, right wing media and idiots online.

 

It's a non issue coded by lies and misinformation.

 

This is what reform says they would fight the election on and the whole country dances to their tune. 

 

This way we don't discuss issues that really matter.

Reform actually took a more trans minded view on this recently than Labour did so I’m not quite sure that really stacks up. The trans issue hasn’t really been a political hot potato for a good few years now 

[ClaphamFox]

1 hour ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

Reform actually took a more trans minded view on this recently than Labour did so I’m not quite sure that really stacks up. The trans issue hasn’t really been a political hot potato for a good few years now 

It doesn’t stack up at all. In fact, it’s absurd. Anybody who has bothered to pay attention to this issue in the UK will be aware that the leading gender critical voices are left-wing feminists. The tendency of trans rights activists to dismiss any and all opposition as ‘extreme right’ merely betrays their total refusal to even attempt to understand why people may disagree with them. In the same way that religious zealots seek to crush opposition because they are terrified of their faith being subject to any kind of scrutiny, activists on this issue try to silence their opponents with dismissive labels and threats.

 

The fact is that most people have no problem whatsoever with gender nonconformity. They really don’t. It’s the idea that a man who ‘identifies’ as a woman magically becomes a woman in that moment, and should be granted access to women’s spaces and sports, that so many people find completely ridiculous. There is nothing ‘far right’ about the idea that biological sex is real and cannot be changed, and that it matters in certain contexts. Neither is there anything far right about the idea that we should be extremely cautious about drugging and/or mutilating gender non-conforming young people who are neurodivergent, suffer from mental health issues or are the victims of abuse. And neither too is there anything far right about objecting when the BBC and other media outlets gaslights a rape victim by describing her male attacker as a woman at his behest. 

Most of what activists describe as far right is merely an attempt to establish some sensible, fact-based rules around this issue. The tragedy is that I’ve no doubt that the vast majority of transgender people just want to lead their lives and probably have no objection to these rules. Unfortunately the activists who claim to represent them have resorted to extreme bullying tactics in an attempt to browbeat everybody else into accepting things they do not find acceptable, which has provoked a backlash. The plot to get Linehan (who I personally don’t care for) arrested at Heathrow is the latest example - it is being widely celebrated on social media by the activists who planned it, but most of the public regard it as insane. And on it goes. 

Edited 5 September 2025 by ClaphamFox

[Guest TamworthFoxes]

 Superbly put. Exactly this.

[leicsmac]

1 hour ago, ClaphamFox said:

It doesn’t stack up at all. In fact, it’s absurd. Anybody who has bothered to pay attention to this issue in the UK will be aware that the leading gender critical voices are left-wing feminists. The tendency of trans rights activists to dismiss any and all opposition as ‘extreme right’ merely betrays their total refusal to even attempt to understand why people may disagree with them. In the same way that religious zealots seek to crush opposition because they are terrified of their faith being subject to any kind of scrutiny, activists on this issue try to silence their opponents with dismissive labels and threats.

 

The fact is that most people have no problem whatsoever with gender nonconformity. They really don’t. It’s the idea that a man who ‘identifies’ as a woman magically becomes a woman in that moment, and should be granted access to women’s spaces and sports, that so many people find completely ridiculous. There is nothing ‘far right’ about the idea that biological sex is real and cannot be changed, and that it matters in certain contexts. Neither is there anything far right about the idea that we should be extremely cautious about drugging and/or mutilating gender non-conforming young people who are neurodivergent, suffer from mental health issues or are the victims of abuse. And neither too is there anything far right about objecting when the BBC and other media outlets gaslights a rape victim by describing her male attacker as a woman at his behest. 

Most of what activists describe as far right is merely an attempt to establish some sensible, fact-based rules around this issue. The tragedy is that I’ve no doubt that the vast majority of transgender people just want to lead their lives and probably have no objection to these rules. Unfortunately the activists who claim to represent them have resorted to extreme bullying tactics in an attempt to browbeat everybody else into accepting things they do not find acceptable, which has provoked a backlash. The plot to get Linehan (who I personally don’t care for) arrested at Heathrow is the latest example - it is being widely celebrated on social media by the activists who planned it, but most of the public regard it as insane. And on it goes. 

This is written as if trans people didn't come in for any kind of discrimination, or abuse, or even violence and death, before the "activists" were responsible for the "backlash".

 

So we're assuming that people without bigotry towards the LGBT community and trans people in particular, and with the motivation to act on that sentiment, aren't relevant and/or don't exist and never have?

 

Still, I guess other minority groups would recognise that argument. 

 

"Oh yeah, I want them to live their lives, but that Malcolm X/those Stonewall rioters kick up such a fuss so you can understand people giving something back in return..."

[ClaphamFox]

31 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

This is written as if trans people didn't come in for any kind of discrimination, or abuse, or even violence and death, before the "activists" were responsible for the "backlash".

 

So we're assuming that people without bigotry towards the LGBT community and trans people in particular, and with the motivation to act on that sentiment, aren't relevant and/or don't exist and never have?

 

Still, I guess other minority groups would recognise that argument. 

 

"Oh yeah, I want them to live their lives, but that Malcolm X/those Stonewall rioters kick up such a fuss so you can understand people giving something back in return..."

I don’t deny that some people are bigots who object to others who are different simply because of who they are. What I’m saying is that these people are in the minority, and that the large majority of gender critical figures do not belong in this category. To repeat what I said above, most people have no problem whatsoever with gender nonconformity. A person choosing to present themselves in a way traditionally associated with the opposite sex is a complete non-issue for the majority of their fellow citizens. You may not believe that, but I assure it’s true.

 

The reason something that should be merely a matter of personal preference has become a public debate is because many of the demands that trans activists have made are highly contentious to say the least, and therefore cannot be resolved without being debated. The attempt by many of these activists to prevent this discussion from taking place at all by labelling their opponents as bigots and transphobes actually worked for a while because people initially feared these labels, but it isn’t working any more because people are becoming weary of being bullied into accepting things they don’t agree with. To cite just one example, I noted the other day that the academic Malcolm Gladwell is now saying that trans-identified males should definitely not be allowed in female sports,  having previously said they should be allowed. He admitted that he never really believed that males should be in women’s sports but was ‘cowed’ into saying that he did. 
 

I think many people are sick of being cowed into supporting certain things they don’t really believe in, and are becoming more confident in expressing what they actually believe. The tactic of silencing them with accusations of bigotry had its day, but that day has passed. It’s not going to work any more. The actual bigots you mention will never be won over because they’re, well, bigots. But the vast majority of people do not belong in this category - it’s just that many of them happen to believe in women’s sex-based rights and the protection of vulnerable people from potentially irreversible medical interventions they may later regret. 

 

 

[Noahfence]

I’ve got nothing of any importance to add to this other than ive always found his face fascinating to look at 

[urban.spaceman]

Linehan's lawyer practically every morning:

[Clogger_]

33 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

I think many people are sick of being cowed into supporting certain things they don’t really believe in, and are becoming more confident in expressing what they actually believe. The tactic of silencing them with accusations of bigotry had its day, but that day has passed. It’s not going to work any more. The actual bigots you mention will never be won over because they’re, well, bigots. But the vast majority of people do not belong in this category - it’s just that many of them happen to believe in women’s sex-based rights and the protection of vulnerable people from potentially irreversible medical interventions they may later regret. 

 

 

Can't argue that the RW press have provided a fertile environment for such views from "LW feminists" and religious types, among others.

 

For sure, feel emboldened to speak freely on this. As with the nutjob who this thread is about, the law is there to make sure that lines are not crossed. I'm sure nobody is happy for others look at them as a "bigot"... but folks are not going to wish that one away. As with "justifiable concerns" about boats etc, they can continue to look to those with a similar worldview for support.

Edited 5 September 2025 by Clogger_