Graham Linehan: "Trans-Sceptic"

Fair warning!

When I can get my hands on a copy, I will review Graham Linehan’s 2023 book “Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy” for Catholic Arena. [Eye Books: ISBN1785633066]

Curiously, ‘Tough Crowd’ is not listed with Chapters-Indigo, the largest chain/on-line book shop in Canada, though I can find it on Amazon.

Many know Graham’s work as a comedy writer for hit shows such as Father Ted (1995–1998), Black Books (2000–2004) and The IT Crowd (2006–2013). He has won five BAFTA awards, including Best Writer, Comedy, for The IT Crowd in 2014.

Linehan first got into trouble with a 2008 episode of the IT Crowd which had a story-line involving a transgender character. The witch hunt came at him with the modern equivalent of pitchforks & torches, so he ended up losing work, income, savings…and even his marriage. Most of this I found out from the SPIKED interview below. Tom Slater notes that Linehan’s position is to protect “women’s spaces, gay rights and children’s safety.”

Graham’s need to speak out about what he believes to be true — no matter the consequences — is salutary.

For example pre-Elon Twitter closed his account in 2020 after he reportedly tweeted “men aren’t women tho” in response to a post by the Women’s Institute wishing their transgender members a happy Pride.

Some other comments:

“He argues that transgender activism endangers women and he has likened the use of puberty blockers to Nazi eugenics.” [wiki]

“He also said the trans movement provides "cover" for "fetishists, con men, and simply abusive misogynists". In an interview with the BBC television programme Newsnight in February 2020, Linehan said that the Tavistock Centre's practice of treating children with puberty blockers such as Lupron was comparable to Nazi eugenics and experiments on children.”

He claims to have lost his agent because of branding David Tennant as “disgusting, ignorant, reckless” after the Doctor Who star wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the words: “Leave trans kids alone you absolute freaks”.”

Some of Linehan’s beliefs have been vindicated. Just look to the damning review and closure of the “Tavistock” [England’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS)]: The review’s litany of charges includes: inadequate assessment, rushed medicalization, failures to safeguard children, indifference to the special vulnerability of disproportionately autistic and same-sex attracted patients, substandard research, undue influence of political actors, such as trans activist groups Mermaids and Stonewall, and intimidation of whistleblower staff.

This issue brings two very important topics to the fore — Gender Issues & Free Speech.

Hold that thought!

Kevin Hay

You can follow Kevin on 𝕏 / Twitter — Twi𝕏 — @ kevinhay77