Trans

Loose Women panelist Saira Khan wants a trans woman on the show

  • Nov 02 2019
  • Written by PinkNews reporter

Saira Khan attends The Best Heroes Awards 2019 at The Bloomsbury Hotel on October 15, 2019 in London (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty)

Loose Women host Saira Khan has said she’d like to see a trans woman become a panellist on the ITV chat show, providing she had something to add to the conversation.

Her open-minded position is a refreshing change for the show, whose hosts have previously come under fire for calling trans women ‘men’ during a debate.

In a discussion about the NHS’s trans-inclusive policies for hospital wards back in January, panellist Gloria Hunniford said: “I think if a man still has his willy and has all the tackle, far as I’m concerned, he/she is a man, and I don’t think that works in a women’s ward.”

She and her fellow panellist, Andrea McLean, both objected to the inclusive policy and referred to trans women using male pronouns throughout the debate.

But Saira Khan has chosen to take a different tack, telling the Daily Star that she would support a trans woman joining the all-female show.

Saira Khan on an episode of ITV’s Loose Women (YouTube/Loose Women)

She added: “I don’t bat an eyelid about how somebody represents themselves, as long as they can talk about their story and have got something relevant to say.”

Unfortunately, the Daily Star reported on the story using a picture of the BBC One Show‘s presenter, Anita Rai, instead of Saira Khan. Awkward.

Anita Rai called the paper out on Twitter, writing: “Because of course we all look the same!! I adore @IamSairaKhan but we are two separate human beings who both happen to have brown skin. Come on do your research at least.”

This was retweeted by Saira Khan herself, as well as the British Iranian comedian Shappi Khorsandi, who recalled a similar media mix-up happening to her.

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