COMEDIAN BARRY HUMPHRIES has made some controversial comments about Caitlyn Jenner.
In an interview with the Telegraph, Humphries, best known for his drag alter-ego Dame Edna Everage, defended fellow Australian Germaine Greer over remarks she made about transgender women.
Greer was widely criticised after claiming trans women such as Caitlyn Jenner are men “who believe that they are women and have themselves castrated”.
Humphries said he agreed with Greer, telling the newspaper: “You’re a mutilated man, that’s all.”
Self-mutilation, what’s all this carry on? Caitlyn Jenner – what a publicity-seeking ratbag. It’s all given the stamp – not of respectability, but authenticity or something. If you criticise anything you’re racist or sexist or homophobic.
The comments have caused a backlash, with Robert Simms, the Australian Green party’s spokesperson on LGBTI issues, saying the comments show Humphries is “out of touch”.
He told Buzzfeed:
The idea that trans women aren’t real women is really damaging, and it’s irresponsible for people in public life to make those comments – particularly when we look at the huge numbers of depression and suicide within the transgender community.
“To refer to transgender people as self-mutilated is appalling, and I don’t think anybody is laughing at Barry Humphries’ transphobic rant.”
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