Sophie Ellis-Bextor has criticised increasing levels of transphobia in the UK and overseas.
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The pop star was speaking in a new interview in The Independent about the issue and how widespread she feels it has become on social media.
“These people make trans people their whole personality and spend their entire day checking their socials and being angry, whereas trans people themselves just want to be under the radar and live their lives,” she said.
“There was a time when Pride felt like a celebration of all the shoulders that people were able to stand on, but now it feels like it’s an absolute political necessity. I suppose you have to be optimistic that things will get better again, but I do get very down about it.”
On her podcast Spinning Plates, Ellis-Bextor has welcomed trans mothers and charity workers, philanthropists and activists.
She added: “The women I have on are so eloquent and articulate, and I know they don’t always want to have to be the voice of reason, but they will take that on and be that beacon. It’s the least I can do.”
The pop star also said her way of dealing with it was by “turning down the volume” on people with homophobic and transphobic views, and amplifying the voices of others.
She added: “I had one of my girlfriends go on quite a weird flip, and it was really affecting me. And you definitely do need to assert that you feel really differently, and then just find ways to support what you believe is being on the right side of history.”
Her comments come after Emma Watson recently spoke about her rift with J.K. Rowling saying that she “cherished” her previous experiences with the writer, despite disagreeing with her views on transgender rights.
Rowling has been a vocal opponent of the transgender community since 2019, and has previously shared gender critical posts and tweets which have been described as transphobic.
The Harry Potter author has since criticised Watson’s remarks as “ignorant” and shared satire of the actress on her social media. She also previously said she would “never forgive” Watson and her co-star Daniel Radcliffe for their criticism of her views on the transgender community.
Boy George defended Watson‘s comments about her relationship with Rowling.
