'Wonder Woman' Lynda Carter Shows Up For Trans Women: 'Leave Them Alone'
By Kristin Myers on July 7, 2022 at 11:30 AM EDT
"Wonder Woman" star Lynda Carter is again coming to protect the rights of all women on Twitter.
For a little bit of context, Macy Gray was accused of transphobia after saying surgery "doesn't make you a woman." "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling defended her on Twitter, and then Bette Midler got involved, prompting Carter to weigh in.
Macy Gray Draws Criticism: 'I Will Say This And Everybody's Going To Hate Me But...'
The "I Try" singer Macy Gray spoke with Piers Morgan on Monday, where she opened up about the "confusing" state of gender identity, more specifically, struggling with which pronouns to use. As per Entertainment Weekly, although she said that she supported trans rights for "fairness and equality," she also agreed with Morgan's perspective that trans women "born to obvious superior physical bodies" should not be allowed to compete with cis women in athletic competitions.
"I totally agree," she said 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 later added, "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."
— Macy Gray (@MacyGraysLife) July 6, 2022
Gray said that she has a "completely unique experience" of growing up as a woman, which she says can only be achieved by living through it. "Surgery or finding yourself doesn't change that," she said. "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." Gray later said that she "doesn't think you should be labeled transphobic just because you don't agree."
The interview quickly went viral. On Wednesday, she posted a statement on her Twitter page, saying: “all of you coming on my page, threatening me and calling me names – just becuz I said something you don’t agree with – be whatever you wana be, and fk off.”
Today feels like a good day to ensure I’ve bought @MacyGraysLife’s entire back catalogue 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iIrPc9WvAQ
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 5, 2022
J.K. Rowling was quick to defend her on Twitter, saying, "Today feels like a good day to ensure I’ve bought @MacyGraysLife’s entire back catalogue 🔥."
Bettle Middler Was ALSO Accused On Being Transphobic On Monday
WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! 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!
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) July 4, 2022
On Monday, the "Hocus Pocus" star posted a tweet that read, "WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! 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!"
PEOPLE OF THE WORLD! My tweet about women was a response to this fascinating and well written piece in the NYT on July 3rd. https://t.co/MlsATlrr1r. There was no intention of anything exclusionary or transphobic in what I said; it wasn’t about that.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) July 5, 2022
The post quickly went viral. The very next day, she quickly issued a correction, saying that her tweet was "a response to this fascinating and well written piece in the NYT on July 3rd." She added, "There was no intention of anything exclusionary or transphobic in what I said; it wasn’t about that."
I have always supported and adored, so be it.
But the truth is, Democracy is slipping through our fingers! I’m all in on trying to save Democracy for ALL PEOPLE. We must unite, because, in case you haven’t been paying attention, divided we will definitely fall.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) July 5, 2022
"I’ve fought for marginalized people for as long as I can remember. Still, if you want to dismiss my 60 years of proven love and concern over a tweet that accidentally angered the very people I have always supported and adored, so be it," she continued.
"But the truth is, Democracy is slipping through our fingers!" she added. "I’m all in on trying to save Democracy for ALL PEOPLE. We must unite, because, in case you haven’t been paying attention, divided we will definitely fall."
Lynda Carter Steps In: 'Focus On The Real War On Women'
I cannot think of anything that helps women’s rights less than pinning the blame on trans women. They face so much violence and scrutiny as is. Leave them alone and focus on the real war on women. It’s happening in the courts and legislatures around this country.
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) July 5, 2022
Later that day, the star of the "Wonder Woman" TV series took to Twitter to weigh in.
"I cannot think of anything that helps women’s rights less than pinning the blame on trans women," she tweeted. "They face so much violence and scrutiny as is. Leave them alone and focus on the real war on women. It’s happening in the courts and legislatures around this country."
This is far from the first time that the 70-year-old actress has used her platform to show support for the community.
Wonder Woman IS NOT A SUPER HERO FOR GAYS!
— Amber (@Mickouse5) June 1, 2022
Back at the beginning of June, Lynda Carter wished her followers a Happy Pride by sharing artwork from Paulina Ganucheau of Wonder Woman smiling against a rainbow-colored background.
"So excited to celebrate with all my LGBTQIA+ friends and fans," she tweeted.
You're right. She's a superhero for bisexuals! https://t.co/G2m7guvmYc https://t.co/MLssq1yYiK
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) June 1, 2022
However, not everyone was ready to celebrate. "Wonder Woman IS NOT A SUPER HERO FOR GAYS!" one user tweeted.
Carter immediately clapped back, "You're right. She's a superhero for bisexuals!" It quickly sparked a firestorm of comments, but Carter didn't stop there.
I didn't write Wonder Woman, but if you want to argue that she is somehow not a queer or trans icon, then you're not paying attention.
Every time someone comes up to me and says that WW helped them while they were closeted, it reminds me how special the role is.
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) June 1, 2022
Earlier in the day, Carter reminded her fans that she didn't write the scenes for her character. However, she noted that "if you want to argue that she is somehow not a queer or trans icon, then you're not paying attention."
She added, "Every time someone comes up to me and says that WW helped them while they were closeted, it reminds me how special the role is."
Later in the day, she thanked her followers for all the love and support.
Love seeing all the love from LGBTQ+ fans today! Now here's one I call the "ready to fight your homophobic relatives" pose. Just kidding. (Or am I?) Haha! 😘 pic.twitter.com/5voHHdZViA
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) June 1, 2022
"Love seeing all the love from LGBTQ+ fans today! Now here's one I call the 'ready to fight your homophobic relatives' pose," she tweeted. "Just kidding. (Or am I?) Haha!"