Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come under fire from LGBTQIA+ advocates following his interview with UK TV host Piers Morgan. The interview covered a range of topics, including the upcoming state funeral of Australian comedian Barry Humphries, cancel culture, and gender identity. While discussing Humphries, Morgan brought up the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s decision to remove Humphries’ name from a top comedy award due to his transphobic comments in 2016 and 2018. Albanese declined to weigh in on whether this amounted to cancel culture, saying that a tribute to Humphries was now being made and that a state funeral would be co-hosted by multiple states.
When Morgan asked Albanese about his views on transgender athletes in women’s sport, Albanese responded that the sporting codes themselves are able to deal with the issue and that it should not be politicized. However, LGBTQIA+ advocates criticized Albanese for failing to defend trans women and for appearing to endorse decisions by some sports codes to exclude trans women from elite competition. Sally Goldner, a spokesperson for Just.Equal Australia, said that trans and gender diverse Australians need a Prime Minister who will defend them, not one who “sucks up to right-wing provocateurs”.
Albanese’s interview with Piers Morgan also touched on the definition of a woman, with Morgan asking Albanese what he believed a woman was. Albanese replied, “An adult female,” but went on to say that he respected people for whoever they are and that young people coming to terms with their identity and who they are need to be respected as well.
The interview has been criticized by LGBTQIA+ advocates for Albanese’s failure to unequivocally defend trans rights and for his apparent willingness to pander to right-wing views. The controversy highlights ongoing debates in Australia and around the world around issues of cancel culture, gender identity, and inclusion in sport.
