UK

Drag Race UK’s Bimini Bon Boulash condemns BBC for ‘unacceptable anti-trans agenda’

Bimini Bon Boulash at London Fashion Week, September 2021

Bimini Bon Boulash at London Fashion Week, September 2021. (Getty/ BFC/ John Phillips)

The backlash against an anti-trans BBC article shows no sign of slowing down, as Drag Race UK star Bimini Bon Boulash accuses the broadcaster of “pushing an anti-trans agenda”.

This week, the BBC published a shocking article titled, “We’re being pressured into sex by some trans women“.

The article used a survey of just 80 people, conducted by the anti-trans pressure group Get The L Out, to claim that trans lesbians are routinely pressuring cis lesbians into sex.

The BBC defended the story, claiming the article was about a “complex subject” and “went through [its] rigorous editorial process” before being published, and “provides appropriate context”.

But the broadcaster’s defence of the anti-trans piece is not quieting the backlash.

On Wednesday (27 October), a thread was published by non-binary drag queen Bimini Bon Boulash, who found fame after appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, produced by the BBC.

They wrote: “Drag Race UK gets renewed for a fourth season (amazing!) by the BBC and in the same breath they are pushing an anti-trans agenda. This is unacceptable.”

Bimini admitted that they are “eternally grateful” for the opportunities they’ve had access to, and that the BBC had played “a huge part in that”, but added: “I can’t watch the media create a moral panic around an already incredibly vulnerable part of my community.

“I hope that the BBC can understand how alarming this article is and the damage it can and will do to further regress the steps made to live in a more open society.

“These are the same tactics that they used against homosexuals. History is repeating itself.”

Bimini shared statistics about the horrifying levels of victimisation and violence that trans folk face, and wrote: “Let’s get this clear: I don’t condone ANY forms of violence.

“I have experienced multiple forms of violence and assault in my lifetime. I never reported it for fear that people wouldn’t believe me. The media are ignoring the harrowing statistics of violence against trans people.”

The LGBT+ community refuses to back down on calling out the BBC over anti-trans article

The LGBT+ community is continuing to use social media to call out The BBC over its anti-trans article.

Gay author Paul Ilett called on Channel 4 News to investigate “the rise of transphobia” at The BBC.

He tweeted: “I can suggest a dozen people and organisations off the top of my head who would assist with an investigation.

“Let me know what you think. Kind regards, Paul (51-year-old member of the LGBTQ community).”

Trans author and journalist Laura Kate Dale responded to the BBC’s defence of the piece, writing on Twitter: “‘The BBC is here to ensure debate and to make sure a wide a range of voices are heard.’ Platforming hate groups is not impartial.”

She called for her followers to “stop funding the BBC’s uncritical platforming of transphobic hate groups”, and added: “You do not need a TV license if you do not watch live TV or use iPlayer.”

Writer Discordian Kitty used Twitter to illustrate the unreliability of the BBC using a survey of just 80 respondents.

“I bet I could get half the respondents on a tiny social media poll to agree the BBC is populated by vampire puppy kickers,” she tweeted.

https://twitter.com/DiscordianKitty/status/1453083940886040579

Her poll received 96 responses, of which 87.5 per cent agreed that the BBC are, in fact, “vampire puppy kickers”.

She added: “Looks like the BBC owes me a platform to publish my findings… Clearly this is a Very Serious and Real Problem.”

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