With a couple of exceptions the response to Bruce Jenner‘s interview with Diane Sawyer, in which he confirmed that “for all intents and purposes” he is a woman, has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive.
One of those less-than-positive responses from a public figure came from Star Trek actress Alice Eve, who shared her views on her Instagram page.
It’s a brave move wading into transgender politics and suggesting that Jenner is wrong to identify as a woman.
“Nope,” Eve wrote. “If you were a woman no one would have heard of you because women can’t compete in the decathlon. You wouldn’t be a hero. You would be a frustrated young athlete who wasn’t given a chance.”
“Until women are paid the same as men, then playing at being a ‘woman’ while retaining the benefits of being a man is unfair,” she went on. “Do you have a vagina? Are you paid less than men? Then, my friend, you are a woman.”
More:How Bruce Jenner’s Diane Sawyer interview opened minds and impacted lives
Hmm, not sure Jenner would consider Eve to be a “friend” right now. And the 33-year-old actress, who starred in Men In Black and Sex And The City, is facing a huge social media backlash.
Comments accused her of being a “bigot,” “transphobic” and “transmisogynistic” with one advising her to: “Stick to acting, love.” Another said “Roddenberry would NOT want this woman in Star Trek” because the franchise has many gender-ambiguous characters.
Before she finally deleted her controversial comments, Eve attempted to explain her remarks but this did little to appease her critics. “I do agree that the struggle for transponders is unique and horrific,” she posted. “However, I do want to also support a cause I strongly believe in, the right for women to have equal rights to men. The transgender equality struggle is the next one, as we all know. And very real it is, too.”
Eve is right to support equal rights for women. But what Bruce Jenner is going through — like millions of other people around the world who don’t have the platform he does to share his story — is a completely different issue.
And on the subject of equality for women shouldn’t it extend to all women: both those who were born in a female body and those who have made the brave choice to transition to the gender they should have been born with?
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