Dame Helen Mirren Dismisses Concept of 'Binary Sexuality'
The notion of “binary sexuality” is a false construct, according to Dame Helen Mirren, who says that trans women are women because they say so.
The Academy Award-winning English actress said she believes there is no such thing as purely male, purely female people. Rather everyone is a “wonderful mix of male and female” and sexuality is something we personally choose – with the truth lying somewhere in the middle. She said:
The 74-year-old told the RadioTimes: “I think I was very lucky to be in my world, the world of acting and drama, because I think an awful lot of actors have male and female in them. A lot of great actors, great, masculine actors, are actually very feminine.
“Great heart-throbs have a very present feminine side to them. A lot of very strong female actors, have a very strong male side to them.”
When asked if she thought of herself in this way, Dame Helen responded that she did, adding she hated talking about her own feelings, “I never want to go to the doctor and I’m a brilliant map reader. I have a lot of what people might call male qualities. But I certainly look like a woman.”
Later on, Mirren was quizzed on her views regarding the transgender community, and was asked whether she agreed with the views of Australian feminist Germaine Greer on transgender people. Greer previously said in a BBC Newsnight interview that transgender women are “not women” just because they say they are. She said:
Mirren responded: “Do you mean Germaine Greer saying women are women and men are men? Well, she didn’t quite say that but if being a TERF [trans-exclusionary radical feminist] is not accepting that trans women are women then I’m not a TERF,’ she added.
The term TERF is used to describe those who believe that “identifying” as a woman is not the same as being born a woman. It is often used to describe those who have “transphobic” views. Instead, she said that she accepts that trans women are women.
This is not the first time Mirren has entered the hotly contested world of male/female sexuality and roles.
As Breitbart News reported, in 2015 she suggested that men who put their arms around their girlfriends are being sexist.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Mail’s You Magazine, she spoke about public displays of affection she finds offensive.
“It annoys me when I see men with an arm slung around their girlfriend’s shoulders. It’s like ownership,” said Mirren. “Of course, when you’re young, you want the guy to take your hand and look after you.”
“But when I see girls being leaned on, I want to say, ‘Tell him to get his damned arm off your shoulder,’” she added.