Bette Midler & Macy Gray Face Backlash After Being Accused of Making Transphobic Comments

Bette Midler and Macy Gray are facing backlash.

On Tuesday (July 5), the 76-year-old actress and the 54-year-old “I Try” singer caused controversy after making a series of comments that some have criticized for being transphobic.

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Bette condemned the use of terms like “birthing people” or “menstruators” on social media, suggesting that they contribute to the erasure of cisgender women.

“WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name!” she wrote. “They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore; they call us ‘birthing people’ or ‘menstruators’, and even ‘people with vaginas’! Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!”

A number of people took issue with the First Wives Club star’s comments, which were seen as an attack on trans-inclusive language. “No one is trying to erase women with inclusive language about people who need abortion care,” author Roxane Gay replied. “No one is calling you anything but what you prefer. You should extend that courtesy in return.”

Crystal of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK added, “The fight for women’s rights INCLUDES trans people – trans rights do not erode women’s rights. We’re all fighting this together and this trans-exclusionary rhetoric does NOTHING to help that. Bette Midler is a woman. Some other people who give birth are not women. That’s ok!”

Macy also faced criticism after making an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Monday.

“I will say this and everybody’s going to hate me, but, as a woman, just because you go change your parts, doesn’t make you a woman. Sorry,” she said, noting that she supports one’s decision to choose their own pronouns, but that the label doesn’t make them a part of the gender the identify with.

“If you want me to call you a her, I will, because that’s what you want, but that doesn’t make you a woman just because I call you a her and just because you got a surgery,” she said, adding: “Surgery or finding yourself doesn’t change that. Being a little girl is a whole epic book, you know? And you can’t have that just because you want to be a woman.”

Macy also seemed to anticipate that her comments would cause backlash, telling Piers that she “doesn’t think you should be labeled transphobic just because you don’t agree.”

Writer Arielle Tschinkel wrote in response, “What is it about ‘womanhood’ that TERFs [a term defined as a feminist who excludes the rights of transgender women from their advocacy of women's rights] like [Macy] and [Bette] are so desperate to cling to? Trans women existing doesn’t make me any less of a woman, no matter how different our experiences may be. [It's] just ridiculous at its core honestly.”

You can read more reactions to Bette and Macy‘s comments down below.

Another star recently drew criticism for mocking trans people in a new comedy special.

Really disappointed in this as a trans man and a Bette Midler fan.

Bette, including trans men in the conversation about reproductive health does not harm women. We have the same organs, and even greater vulnerability, as cis woman.

— Evan Urquhart (@e_urq) July 4, 2022