UN Names Man With Scandalous Past "Women's Champion"

Women's rights groups have expressed disappointment that the UN has picked as the UK's "Women's Champion" a transgender activist, who has been implicated in various scandals.

Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) community take part in the annual Pride Parade in the streets of London on July 1, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) Fotó: AFP/HENRY NICHOLLS

The letter, written by Fair Play For Women and sixteen other groups including Sex Matters, Transgender Trend and Women's Rights Network, also highlights that

"the female population of the UK is more than 33 million, yet you have ignored every one of us and chosen a male."

The rights groups also point out, writes Modernity, that "Bergdorf’s well-publicized activism is not pro-women. This person has objected to women making references to our female bodies.” They continue that “ many issues affecting women, such as FGM [female genital mutilation], child marriage and forced marriage, reproductive rights, male violence against women and girls, rape as a war crime, pregnancy and maternity healthcare, and more, are inextricably linked with our female biology. How can this person be a champion of women if these issues are deemed unmentionable?”

The groups also recall Bergdorf's scandalous past, noting that “Bergdorf resigned as an adviser on LGBT+ to the UK Labour Party after previous homophobic and racist posts on social media were revealed. These included saying that “all white people” are “violent racists” and “f*ck you, stupid dirty and smelly ni*ga”. There are numerous examples of homophobic messaging, using expressions from “f*ggot” to “barren…hairy dyke”.

Bergdorff's contract was also terminated by cosmetics company L'Oreal in 2017, specifically because of his racist remarks.

In a message to all white people, among others, he said, "most of y’all don’t even realize or refuse to acknowledge that your existence, privilege and success as a race is built on the backs, blood and death of people of color. Your entire existence is drenched in racism."

In their letter, the women's rights organizations further note that “in a separate incident, Bergdorf was dropped as an ambassador to a children’s charity, Childline, because of inappropriate messages which were counter to safeguarding norms.”

Cover photo: Members of the LGBTQ community at the annual London Pride event (Photo: AFP/Henry Nicholls)