John Oliver Takes On Transphobes in Latest Segment

British comedian John Oliver has officially joined a list of comedians who are using their platforms to debunk prominent myths and disinformation about trans kids.

On the most recent episode of his HBO news show Last Week Tonight, which aired Sunday, the comedian took conservative transphobes to task in a nearly half-hour-long segment. He began with a supercut of ignorant fools making the only joke they have been using for the past several years: making fun of pronouns.

Although Oliver made his jokes as well, he also acknowledged that the issue is much more serious.

He pointed out that over 100 anti-trans bills have been introduced in state legislatures this year alone, all “against a backdrop of violence and threats including attacks and harassment aimed at hospitals providing gender-affirming care to youth.” However, in a rare move for mainstream media, Oliver also called out liberals and leftists “who seem at best reluctant to engage on this issue and at worst outright hostile to it, either complaining about pronoun police or arguing that this issue will cost Democrat elections.”

Following was a beautiful takedown of the most popular anti-trans talking points including the moral panic of trans student athletes, the idea that trans people are grooming children, the notion of “rapid onset gender dysphoria,” the “dangers” of letting kids transition, and the troubling myth conservatives keep repeating that schools are placing litter boxes in schools to accommodate students who identify as animals. Piece by piece, Oliver debunked each talking point with a balance of facts and humor, highlighting how ridiculous these arguments are.

In addition to demonstrating these talking points with clips from various transphobic politicians, Oliver also took equal care to uplift and cite trans voices, including those of Texas-based 11-year-old activist Kai Shappley, Texan athlete Mack Beggs, and legendary trans author Julia Serano.

Most importantly, rather than getting lost in the weeds of anti-trans legislation as a pure electoral strategy, Oliver took care to emphasize that these bills and laws have a real human impact.

“Hope and joy are crucial,” he says at the end of the segment. “They are the fuel to power the ongoing fight for equality. And while there is a lot of fear and uncertainty right now, it is worth remembering that progress, while not always linear, is always possible, because we’re working toward the goal of every trans kid knowing that they are loved, valued, and indispensable.”