Nigella Lawson comes out swinging for trans rights and shows how a simple act of kindness can go a long, long way
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Nigella Lawson. (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Nigella Lawson has won praise from LGBT+ organisations after she came out swinging for trans rights on Twitter.
The television cook and bestselling food writer shared an article from The Independent on Saturday (29 August) about a former “gender critical feminist” who changed her views when her nephew came out as trans.
In the article, Nora Mulready wrote about her journey towards understanding and acceptance after her nephew opened up about his gender identity in 2017.
“Although I was in some ways supportive, changing pronouns and the name I called him, inside I found it challenging and hoped this ‘phase’ would pass,” Mulready wrote.
However, as time went by, Mulready “listened” and “learned” and came to see that trans people deserve to be seen as who they really are.
Lawson shared the article on Twitter, and simply wrote: “A still small voice of calm.”
The writer, who is gearing up to release her latest cookbook Cook, Eat, Repeat in October, was widely praised for showing her support for trans rights with her 2.6 million followers.
Nigella Lawson basically said ‘trans rights!’
The television personality was widely praised after she essentially said “trans rights!”
Nigella said "trans rights!" – and we are here. for. it. ???? https://t.co/GiKgitUka0
— Pride in London (@PrideInLondon) August 30, 2020
Nigella calmly says trans rights. And some great recipes ? https://t.co/LfbfQddIbs
— Stephanie Woolley (@StephWoolleyTO) August 30, 2020
Others rightly felt that they had no choice but to stan.
We stan a trans rights-affirming culinary queen ?? https://t.co/2JwNUTp90X
— Jessica Townsend (@digressica) August 30, 2020
Nigella @Nigella_Lawson : what absolute class. an icon. a hero of our time. thank you so much. ???️? https://t.co/9YU8ZP7h9O
— Dr Adrian Harrop ?️?? (@AdrianHarrop) August 30, 2020
It’s so lovely to see Nigella use her platform in such a considered and intelligent way. https://t.co/0V59JRRDma
— Hetty Halpin Wilde (@Henriettaspoon) August 30, 2020
She was also praised by various LGBT+ organisations and individuals for the powerful show of support.
Iconic behaviour. Thanks Nigella ❤️ https://t.co/IBg0UJpwED
— Gendered Intelligence (@Genderintell) August 30, 2020
My queen. Thank you. X
— Protect Trans Kids / BLM ✊? (@MunroeBergdorf) August 30, 2020
Hi Nigella, it's great to see you sharing this. X Calm not hate.
?????— Mermaids (@Mermaids_Gender) August 30, 2020
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou ♥️
— Jack Monroe (@BootstrapCook) August 30, 2020
We don’t deserve you
— Owen Jones ? (@OwenJones84) August 30, 2020
Others happily took the opportunity to move their allegiance from JK Rowling to Lawson, after the Harry Potter author was accused of making transphobic comments in a series of tweets and a lengthy blog post.
Who needs JKR when we have Nigella Lawson!#TransRightsAreHumanRights https://t.co/U8JZkHNOWU
— Dylan Tippetts?️?? (@_Dylan_T) August 29, 2020
catch me replacing all the HP books on my shelves with nigella cookbooks no joke https://t.co/LLEUe8Vani
— BLM // amaz0n ech0 th0t (@mariah_scary_) August 29, 2020
Perhaps most importantly, it helped to lift the spirits of trans people, many of whom spend much of their lives fielding transphobic attacks online.
I’ve been having a sad day but @Nigella_Lawson said trans rights and it’s lifted my spirits somewhat.
Thanks to @NoraMulready for such acute sensitivity, love and respect in a time characterised by attacks and hate ❤️
Trans people are just trying to live our lives. That’s all. https://t.co/T0iVVMCaEB
— Toryn Caitríona Glavin (@torynglavin) August 30, 2020
She was also widely praised for using her large and powerful platform in a constructive and positive way.
Using privilege to build people up not drag them down ? https://t.co/l3L3iQjhQu
— Jerry Daykin (@jdaykin) August 29, 2020
The much-loved At My Table cookery star has won praise in the past for her support of trans rights.
In January, she shared an article about the history of “they” and “them” singular pronouns – and won praise from trans and non-binary fans in the process.
She also previously donated to a fundraiser to pay for the funeral of a trans man whose loved ones refused to claim his body.
Lawson once famously said that all women should fall in love with someone of the same sex. Moreover, she once said she is a “gay man in a woman’s body” back in 2016, a remark made by her late husband, John Diamond, for her affinity with the queer community.
Her support comes after a difficult few months for trans and non-binary people, during which JK Rowling made her opposition to trans rights public.
More: JK Rowling, nigella lawson, trans rights, transphobia, Twitter
