As day follows night, the transgender rights activists are out to get Adele. Her crime? Saying that she loves being a woman when collecting her award at the Brit Awards last night for Artist of the Year.
For that, the world’s most famous singer is being sneered at, and accused of being a TERF – that’s the rather nasty term being bandied around for a feminist who allegedly excludes the rights of transgender women, and one that is often used against Adele’s friend, JK Rowling.
While collecting the award – which used to be given separately to best female and best male artist- Adele said, with her usual passion: “I understand why the name of this award has changed. But I really love being a woman and being a female artist I do, I do ! I’m really proud of us”.
And so she should be proud, hugely proud. For years, female artists in what has been a macho industry have had to fight to have their voices heard, and it’s one of the reasons that the female category existed.
But the trans-rights brigade missed the point completely. LGBT activists were quick to tweet: “Please, no, ADELE can’t be a TERF. That last comment, though ambiguous, could be perceived as TERF-Y. Please no”. Another activist tweeted: “I love Adele but that ‘woman’ comment seemed like a bit of a dig, non binary artists deserve better”.
Happily these killjoys are in the minority. Most women’s groups who worry about these things came out in support. Safeguard Women & Girls said: “Yes, women are part of society, 50% actually. @Adele you make every woman I know proud. You’re an inspiration to many of what can be achieved”.
Another women’s rights activist, Inna Shevchenko said: “Welcome to the Brave Inclusive New World: Now saying ‘I really love being a woman, I really love being a female artist’ is enough to be labeled as a Terf and a transphobe”.
And happily, Adele is the one who has the bigger and more powerful voice. As she might put it, and did in a song, Set fire to the Rain. Whatever that means. How do you set fire to the rain?
