Piers Morgan is a well known journalist and co-presenter for Good Morning Britain, a popular TV show. Recently he spoke on GMB about gender identity and shared his very clearly transphobic views. He started the show by immaturely shouting “shut up” in response to a clip shown of a woman explaining a selection of gender identities. He responded to one of his co-hosts by disagreeing that people can identify as what they want to identify as. He then proceeded to list a selection of genders in a condescending tone. Piers then continued by mocking people’s gender identity by stating that he is “a penguin” and identifying as a “two spirited penguin”.

This is not the first time Piers Morgan has openly attacked transgender people as in the past he has made many transphobic remarks. In 2018 a transgender couple were bought on the show and Piers Morgan belittled them consistently. On the same show he called gender-fluid people “absurd”, “a contagion” and “damaging to society”. Piers Morgan has said on the show that gender-fluidity is a “farce”. He then tweeted that “teachers and parents must stop encouraging this gender fluid nonsense” and then further mocked transgender people by jokingly announcing that he identified with Brad Pitt.

This open transphobia is absolutely disgusting and the fact that ITV and GMB are enforcing it by allowing Piers Morgan to speak like this on the show is horrific. It encourages transphobia and hate and violence towards transgender people. It’s 2019 and while some people are fighting for inclusivity and equality ITV are allowing Piers Morgan, an open transphobe, to continue spreading hate on their platform. Transphobia is a large issue and transgender people are attacked and killed by people sharing Piers Morgan’s views. 46% of transgender men and 42% of transgender women have attempted suicide and 84% have contemplated suicide. GMB was speaking about suicide prevention day yesterday yet today allow this to happen. No action has been taken against Piers Morgan nor have the show apologised leading us to believe that transphobia is accepted by them.

By allowing Piers Morgan to have a platform to spread such hateful transphobia is absolutely disgusting. Action needs to be taken against this as it is a serious issue that ITV and GMB refuse to acknowledge.