Bette Midler has infuriated transgender rights supporters by claiming that the word “women” is being “erased” in favor of awakened terms such as “people who are part of” and “menstruating”.
The 76-year-old gay actress and icon tweeted on Monday: “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! They are taking away our rights over our bodies, our lives and even our name! ‘
He added: “They no longer call us ‘women’; they call us ‘people who look like’ or ‘menstruating’, and even ‘people with vaginas’!”
‘Don’t let them erase you! All humans on earth owe you!
Midler’s comments generated a quick reaction, with 11,000 retweets and 61,000 likes in less than 12 hours.
He appeared to be referring to a New York Times opinion piece published Sunday.
This saw columnist Pamela Paul exploit the use of terms such as “people stopping” and “menstruating”.
Proponents say the controversial terms include transgender men and non-binary people, but critics say they effectively erase another historically oppressed minority: women.
Tennis icon Martina Navratilova, who herself has angered trans activists by wondering if it’s fair to let trans women compete in some sports, was among Midler’s supporters.
She said, “Be careful, Bette, she’ll also call you transphobic or worse …,” she said, with the “horrified” emoji.
Bette Midler, photographed in December at the Kennedy Center gala, on Monday sparked anger by tweeting that women were being “erased” by the awakened terminology.
Comedian Shaparak Khorsandi joked, “I’m excited about the drinks with some people I went to school with … we’re having a night of correct menstruation!” Let me know when this happens. Right now it’s just a kind gesture to the inclusion of a small minority.
And singer Bradley James Skistimas, known as Five Times August, tweeted, “I agree with you on this. Is your account hacked?
“Besides, where were you when the women of the world were being forced and coerced into getting a vaccine on their body?”
But, as predicted, thousands of others quickly descended on the famous liberal Midler to accuse her of bigotry.
“No,” said Irish drag queen and gay rights activist Dr. Panti Bliss-Cabrera.
‘Don’t fall into the false nonsense against trans panic. No one is deleting women.
“In some small healthcare cases, where appropriate, they use inclusive trans language. That’s all.”
Derry Girls actress Siobhan McSweeney responded, “That’s not true. Xxx ‘
Midler, seen in November 2019, angered many with his tweet, but others supported him
Dr. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister at New York City’s Middle Collegiate Church, said it wasn’t supposed to be a “them or us.”
“Using language that includes gender doesn’t deny my femininity,” she said.
“Liberation is collective.”
Author Chanda Prescod-Weinstein tweeted, “The stupidity of TERF semantics knows no bounds.”
TERF means “radical trans-exclusionist feminist” and is a term used to describe women who do not believe that transgender women should have all the gender-based protection rights that correspond to their gender.
Trans journalist Niko Stratis said: “The problem with Bette Midler’s publication is how language is a direct line of this NYT opinion piece, the power of the registration document to play with fears, insecurities and the lack of adequate information creates this space where the idea that trans people are erasing women becomes real. ‘
It’s not the first time Midler has delved into the battle of cultural warfare, though he generally adheres to the progressive side of online battle lines.
In May, he sparked outrage by responding to the shortage of infant formula across the country with the message: “TRY TO MILK! It’s free and available on demand. ‘
He immediately came across a wall of criticism from figures as diverse as Stephen Miller, Donald Trump’s hardline speechwriter, and executive producer John Oliver.
Many noted that a significant percentage of women are unable to breastfeed, despite their best attempts: a breastfeeding consultant and author, Diana Cassar-Uhl, put the figure at 12 to 15 percent of all mothers.
Others noted that some babies have specific dietary conditions and do not respond well to breast milk.
Still others pointed out that tens of thousands of babies are adopted and others are born through surrogates.
And the gay men – who are part of a large faction of Midler’s fan base – were also angry with Midler’s comment, stressing that a gay couple couldn’t breastfeed their baby or toddler.
Tim Carvell, executive producer of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, tweeted, “Imagine having a large gay fan base, many of whom raise children in two-parent homes, and you think that’s a good suggestion.”
Miller, Trump’s staunchly loyal aide, tweeted in response to Midler: “What a more offensive and ignorant statement.
“There are countless reasons why breastfeeding is not an option for many mothers, too many to get into here. And if you’ve been using formula, you can’t turn on a switch. Not to mention millions of babies with allergies to milk / food … ‘
Ilyse Hogue, president of the Progressive Social Change Campaign, Purpose, tweeted: “Bette, respectfully, this is a very bad catch. I had twins. I didn’t produce enough milk for both of them. Without formula, I should have to have chosen which one to eat.Not to mention the children who separate from the very young biological mothers.
One replied, “I love you Bette, but that’s not right. I struggled to breastfeed my son, he continued to lose weight, despite my best efforts, including breastfeeding experts.
“It was emotional and heartbreaking. I felt like a failure and at 3 months I switched to formula, because of the stress it was putting on me and my son.”
Another joked, “It’s not big, Bette says you just have to nurse! (It doesn’t matter that they earn more than $ 1,000 a week and that’s something working families can’t afford, especially at a time in which EVERYTHING costs more.)
Midler, however, doubled.
“People are accumulating because of the previous tweet,” he said.
“It’s not a shame if you can’t breastfeed, but if you can and are somehow convinced that your own milk isn’t as good as a‘ scientifically researched product, ’that’s another thing.
“The news of the monopoly is news to me, but it is not a lie. #RUSSIANS ‘
He also said he trusted President Joe Biden to find a solution.
Elise Stefanik, president of the Republican House conference, tweeted that Biden “HAS NO PLAN.”
In response, Midler retweeted a comment from podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen.
“Aside from the fact that you want to starve babies and accuse anyone who disagrees with you of being a pedophile, Joe Biden actually has a plan,” Cohen said.
‘It’s right here. You’re lying.’
He attached a link to the White House briefing on Thursday, detailing the steps they were taking to control the problem.