Comedy Skeptical of Transgender Ideology Important

Conservatives generally expect to live within the parameters of a counterculture. Most right-leaning pundits and personalities consider themselves “pre-canceled” and so feel relatively free to speak their minds. This is not the same for liberals who depend on liberal institutions and professional opportunities. But there is, I think, one exception to this: comedy. As a means of keeping sex-based rights in the mainstream, this space is becoming increasingly important.

Earlier this week, I noted Bill Maher’s skeptical monologue on transgenderism and how he attempted to transcend the U.S. culture wars. Maher argued that some things — scientific integrity and child welfare among them — are more important than political point-scoring. He was soon joined by a comedian from the U.K., Ricky Gervais, whose Netflix special, SuperNature, this week also poked fun at trans extremism.

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Madeleine Kearns

Madeleine Kearns is a former staff writer at National Review.

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Conservatives generally expect to live within the parameters of a counterculture. Most right-leaning pundits and personalities consider themselves “pre-canceled” and so feel relatively free to speak their minds. This is not the same for liberals who depend on liberal institutions and professional opportunities. But there is, I think, one exception to this: comedy. As a means of keeping sex-based rights in the mainstream, this space is becoming increasingly important.

Earlier this week, I noted Bill Maher’s skeptical monologue on transgenderism and how he attempted to transcend the U.S. culture wars. Maher argued that some things — scientific integrity and child welfare among them — are more important than political point-scoring. He was soon joined by a comedian from the U.K., Ricky Gervais, whose Netflix special, SuperNature, this week also poked fun at trans extremism.