Culture

Barry Humphries Says That Being Transgender Is A Fashion And That He’s Grateful For Trump

by Max Koslowski  22 July 2018
Barry Humphries

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Barry Humphries, the actor most widely known for his portrayal as alter-ego Dame Edna Everage, has labelled the trans movement as a “fashion” and praised Trump for shaking up global politics.

In an interview with UK outlet The Spectator ahead of his three-week residency at arts centre the Barbican, Humphries called the trans movement “a fashion”.

“How many different kinds of lavatory can you have? And it’s pretty evil when it’s preached to children by crazy teachers”

Responding to an argument that transphobia should be treated as assault (due to the high risk of self-harm amongst trans individuals), Humphries said that it was “terrible rat-baggery”.

Humphries also doubled down on his 2016 claim that gender reassignment surgery was “self mutilation”.

“They had their genitalia chopped off and tucked in and whatever they had to do,” Humphries told The Spectator. “And that aroused a lot of indignation — probably among the people who’d spent a lot of money having it done. But I don’t think I’m right to pontificate. I’m really an actor.”

In that same interview with Daily Life two years ago, Humphries called high profile trans woman Caitlyn Jenner a “publicity-seeking ratbag”.

Humphries also shared his thoughts on US president Donald Trump.

“I’m grateful to Trump for stirring up politics,” he said. “And I won’t be joining any marches against him.”

Despite suggesting that his Dame Edna character would retire back in 2012, Humphries has since stated that she would return to stage: in 2015, the character travelled on a farewell tour across North America.