The following statement is from John Mulholland, editor of the Observer:
We have decided to withdraw from publication the Julie Burchill comment piece 'Transsexuals should cut it out'. The piece was an attempt to explore contentious issues within what had become a highly-charged debate. The Observer is a paper which prides itself on ventilating difficult debates and airing challenging views. On this occasion we got it wrong and in light of the hurt and offence caused I apologise and have made the decision to withdraw the piece. The Observer Readers' Editor will report on these issues at greater length.The comments posted beneath the article have also been removed in line with our deletion process and as a result these comments will no longer appear in individual users' profiles.
Being a relative novice to British media treatment of transgender people I observed earlier that the brouhaha over 'Seeing Red: the power of female anger' was little more than a Tempest in a teapot. But then I started to learn about the atrocious treatment UK trans people receive by the mainstream media the angst over Moore's article began to make sense.
According to Gay Star News Moore returned to Tweeter and offered an apology for her comment about Brazilian transsexuals:
'I did not set out to offend and the murder of all women trans or not is clearly something I DO care about,' Moore said, adding that there had been 'much bridge building' between her and 'several trans people who I deeply respect' and she is meeting with more trans people.'(Note I could not verify that she returned to tweeter or said this)
Even though some within the UK community would perceive this as just another episode of transphobia I would like to remind you of this.
We stand with you, planet wide. We are one, planetransgender and our collective voices can't be denied. Even though there has been no word of Burchill's employment status I venture you won't see her hateful writing being framed as an 'exploration of a contentious' subject again, in the Observer anyways.
So I think we can see this as a victory none the less.
3 comments:
If you paid attention, you'd know she's a freelance writer. And if you count the silencing of free expression as a "victory" (and I know you do), then the victory is all yours. Lets hope no one is so victorious over you.
Carolyn, would you defend the right for someone to write public article calling you by name a 'shim' or perhaps a bed wetting dick in womans clothing? There's a difference between hate speech and freedom of speech.
If you were more concerned with making a valid observation as opposed to tearing down my article you would have noticed I never implied she has a inclusive contract with the Guardian.
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