Bette Midler called out for claiming women are being erased: ‘this isn’t true’
The Hocus Pocus star claims women are being erased by gender-inclusive language.
Words: Emily Maskell; pictures: Wiki Commons
Bette Midler is being criticised for claiming that women are being erased in a tweet commenting on inclusive language.
The 76-year-old icon tweeted on Monday (4 July) “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives, and even of our name!” seemingly in reference to the recent overturning of Rose vs Wade in the US.
She also said: “They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore; they call us ‘birthing people’ or ‘menstruators’, and even ‘people with vaginas’! Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!”
WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! They don’t call us “women” anymore; they call us “birthing people” or “menstruators”, and even “people with vaginas”! Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) July 4, 2022
Numerous queer figures and allies have spoken out against Midler
Among them, Irish drag queen Panti Bliss tweeted: “Oh God. Not Bette Midler falling for the anti-trans panic nonsense.”
Oh God. Not Bette Midler falling for the anti-trans panic nonsense https://t.co/vmMuXiXage
— Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera (@PantiBliss) July 4, 2022
A few minutes later, Bliss replied to Midler’s tweet: “Don’t fall for the anti-trans panic fake nonsense. No one is erasing women. In a few small healthcare cases where appropriate they are using trans inclusive language. That’s all.”
Derry Girls actor Siobhán McSweeney replied to Midler, with, “This isnt true. xxx”.
While RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 1 contender Crystal commented: “The fight for women’s rights INCLUDES trans people – trans rights do not erode women’s rights. We’re all fighting this together and this trans-exclusionary rhetoric does NOTHING to help that.”
She continued: “Some other people who give birth are not women. That’s ok!”
The fight for women’s rights INCLUDES trans people – trans rights do not erode women’s rights. We’re all fighting this together and this trans-exclusionary rhetoric does NOTHING to help that.
Bette Midler is a woman. Some other people who give birth are not women. That’s ok! https://t.co/i4IUzNpcTh
— Crystal | Black Lives Matter (@crystalwillseeu) July 4, 2022
The Attitude July/August issue is out now.