This Morning's Eamonn and Ruth slammed for gender chat
This Morning's Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have come under fire following a very fiery debate about gender, which included a doctor who was sacked for refusing to acknowledge his patient's gender identity.
Dr David Mackereth explained: "When I use the word gender, I use it the same as sex, assigned at birth. Yes, you've mentioned my religious views – I'm a Bible-believing Christian, I believe that God made mankind male and female. And I believe this is extremely important to us as a nation and a generation that we uphold this truth."
However, it was Eamonn and Ruth's insistence that their other guest, transgender model Munroe Bergdorf, reveal the sex that appears on her passport and blunt questioning that outraged some viewers.
Eamonn asked: "How does genealogy continue, how do records be kept?"
Munroe clarified that this issue was about gender identity, not biological sex.
Ruth claimed Munroe was dismissing the doctor's views: "What he's saying is that his religious beliefs, he doesn't accept that, but you're not accepting his views."
Eamonn added: "On your passport, does it say male or female?"
"My documentation has absolutely nothing to do with my trans," replied Munroe.
"If you're attacking him for how he classifies you, your passport classifies you in a certain way," replied Eamonn.
Munroe hit back by saying: "My paperwork does, my paper trail does. It's just legal paper, paperwork is not my make-up for my identity."
Ruth asked if she has problems when she has to present her paperwork, probing: "But do you get questioned a lot?"
"Does the passport say that you're a man?" asked Eamonn again.
"No, I'm not a man," replied Munroe.
"So what does your passport say?" shouted Eamonn again.
"Yeah, it says female," conceded Munroe. "You can change all of that documentation."
Views took to Twitter to blast the presenters for their treatment of Munroe with some dubbing the duo "transphobic" for their indelicate handling of the topic.
Actually cannot believe why there’s this ridiculousness surrounding gender and trans people it’s a joke?! Why is this being shown? Can’t believe she’s so composed I would’ve slapped him and Eamon and Ruth #ThisMorning
- 寇木兰 (@ktcoleeex) July 17, 2018
that was disgusting to watch, clearly Ruth and Eamonn are transphobic and should never of been allowed to interview such a beautiful women on live telly anyway #ThisMorning grim
- 𝖇𝖊𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖞 (@xhoneybaby) July 17, 2018
I'm disgusted at the amount of transphobia is the #ThisMorning tag. They wouldn't be saying it if it was about being gay. If doctors are allowing their personal beliefs to interfere with their standard of care, which includes being respectful and unbiased, /1
- Alexis Harrow (@AlexisHarrow) July 17, 2018
#ThisMorning never seems to understand transgender individuals
- Emma Dean (@edean96) July 17, 2018
#ThisMorning Eamon and Ruth your transphobia is showing.. sex and gender is recognised as different.
- Charlotte (@Charletitia) July 17, 2018
It was super awkward how much time the #ThisMorning hosts spent asking @MunroeBergdorf about her passport
- Chris (@DigisectChris) July 17, 2018
However, Eamonn did support Munroe by saying that the transgender community are just trying to align their bodies with how their minds have always been.
Meanwhile, some viewers felt that Munroe was making the interview difficult by stopping the doctor from speaking.
This woman is far too ignorant for me. She is diving in constantly whilst the doctor allows her to speak @thismorning #ThisMorning
- craig (@worldcupblues) July 17, 2018
Be nice to let this bloke have a word in!! #ThisMorning
- CYRIL SNEER (@G21CEY) July 17, 2018
This Morning continues weekdays from 10.30am.
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