UK Prime Minister labels David Tennant "the problem" in trans rights debate

Last week, David Tennant — best known for his roles on shows like Doctor Who and Good Omens — won the Celebrity Ally award at the British LGBT Awards. He is indeed known as a supporter of the LGBT+ community, often using his celebrity to raise awareness or raise money for charities.

"If I'm honest I'm a little depressed by the fact that acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it as long as they're not hurting anyone else should merit any kind of special award or special mention because it's common sense, isn't it?" Tennant asked in his acceptance speech. "It is human decency. We shouldn't live in a world where that is worth remarking on. However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn't exist any more - I don't wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up - whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this. I am thrilled to be here and to be a part of this night - Pride is very important in our house, it's a family affair, we have skin in the game, so this event tonight thrills me."

Members of the conservative party in Britain zeroed in on the bit where Tennant said that he wishes for Kemi Badenoch, a British politician serving as the Minister for Women and Equalities, would "shut up." Badenoch herself hit back on Twitter/X. "I will not shut up," she wrote. "I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls. A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can't see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end. Tennant is one of Labour's celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win. Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded. He and his supporters will do the same with the country. Do not let the bigots and bullies win."

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake also condemned Tennant's remarks, and even UK Prime Minster Rishi Sunak weighed in, according to Yahoo News.  "Freedom of speech is the most powerful feature of our democracy. If you're calling for women to shut up and wishing they didn't exist, you are the problem."

Badenoch has come under fire over the years for her stances on LGBT+ issues. She abstained from a 2019 vote to extend gay marriage rights to Northern Ireland. On leaked audio, she was heard mocking the idea of gay marriage and referring to trans women as "men." She was criticized for her failure to make good on a promise to ban conversion therapy and has been outspoken in her opposition to trans rights, announcing plans to ban social transition in schools and claiming there is an "epidemic" of children being told they're transgender.

Trans issues have been a hot topic for a while and are particularly contentious in the UK, where a mode of transphobia known as trans exclusionary radical feminism, or TERFism, is popular. That the prime minister of the country is condemning an actor's acceptance speech should give you an idea of the way this issue is used as rhetorical weaponry in the country.

British elections will be held on July 4. It is widely believed that Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party will lose a lot of power in the government going forward.

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