BBC faces backlash after publishing anti-Trans "propaganda" article

After publishing an article entitled 'We're being pressured into sex by some trans women', the BBC is facing criticism for its anti-Trans messaging.

News . Written by Saoirse Schad.

BBC anti-Trans article: (representative)Protest demanding change
Image: Unsplash

Content Warning: Contains descriptions of transphobia.

Yesterday, October 26, BBC News reported a story on its digital platform, which alleged that some lesbians have been pressured into having sex with Trans women, and the article itself is peppered with anti-Trans rhetoric.

Written by Caroline Lowbridge, who disappeared off Twitter around the time of publication, the article is sparking fiery debate across the internet about whether or not it is transphobic to choose your sexual partners based on their genitalia.

While some Twitter-users are coming to the defence of the BBC writer, overwhelmingly the piece has been condemned for giving a platform to anti-Trans views. For example, in explaining why she would not want to date a Trans woman, the article quotes a woman who’s been given the name of Amy, referencing a hypothetical Trans woman as “male”.

“I can hear their male vocal cords. I can see their male jawline. I know, under their clothes, there is male genitalia. These are physical realities, that, as a woman who likes women, you can’t just ignore.”

Adam Smith, The Independent’s Science and Tech reporter, labelled the article as “propaganda”, while Trans activists are circulating an open letter to the BBC to voice their outrage over the piece.

As pointed out by Gay Times, the writer “cites things such as social media, people’s opinions and even a survey of 80 people as sources during her apparent investigation”.

Lowbridge herself admits in the piece that there is “little research on this topic – only one survey to my knowledge” and that “the pressure comes from a minority of Trans women”.

This disclaimer, which occurs 360 words into the almost-4000-word thinly-researched collection of anecdotes, is not sufficient to give balance to this article. A headline that perpetuates Trans women as sexual predators (even with the qualifier of “some” Trans women) does a huge disservice to an already highly marginalised community.

It must be said that some of the women in the BBC article share personal incidences of rape and sexual coercion and have clearly experienced trauma; that cannot be glossed over.

However, the trauma of these women should not be used as a weapon to defend the ill-intent of this article.

Online, those who have condemned the messaging of this article are being called out for invalidating the experiences of the women who shared their stories, while those who support the article are being called out as transphobic.

We as readers may have to open our minds to the possibility that two things can be true: these women may indeed have been victims, while also the BBC article is indeed anti-Trans rhetoric.

If you have been affected by this story or are looking to reach out to someone for support or advice or just to talk, there are numerous services available for LGBTQ+ people, listed below, and many offer instant messaging support.

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