Eddie Izzard praises Caitlyn Jenner for her role in battling transphobia

‘It’s made it easier for me’: Eddie Izzard praises Caitlyn Jenner for her role in battling ‘toxic’ transphobia

Eddie Izzard has praised Caitlyn Jenner for her role in battling transphobia. 

The comedian, 58 – who is gender fluid and ‘switches between boy-mode and girl-mode’ – said the rise in stars such as Caitlyn transitioning has helped deal with any ‘toxicity’.

Speaking on the RunPod podcast, Eddie said: ‘It was toxic back in ’85. It was toxic in the Nineties. Being transgender was never cool.  

‘The tipping point was when a number of things happened in America’: Eddie Izzard has praised Caitlyn Jenner for her role in battling transphobia

‘The tipping point was when a number of things happened in America – from Vanity Fair for Caitlyn Jenner to [transgender actress] Laverne Cox getting Woman Of The Year [from Glamour magazine].

‘America is such an engine. When things happen there, it pushes it out around the world. It’s made it easier for me.’ 

Former Olympian Caitlyn went public with her gender transition in 2015 after previously being known as Bruce.

She made headlines around the world with a cover shoot for American magazine Vanity Fair, with the words ‘Call me Caitlyn’ written across the front. 

Trailblazer: Former Olympian Caitlyn, who used to be known as Bruce, went public with her gender transition in 2015

Trailblazer: Former Olympian Caitlyn, who used to be known as Bruce, went public with her gender transition in 2015 

Eddie, who calls herself ‘somewhat boy-ish and somewhat girl-ish’, uses ‘transgender’ as an umbrella term, and has been open about difficulties coming out.

Eddie told  The Telegraph: ‘Coming out was so hard – I couldn’t talk to anyone. I knew I was going to get abuse in the streets – and I have had that. It made me very mentally tough.’  

Eddie also defending J.K. Rowling, 55, saying she doesn’t believe the author is transphobic. 

Defence: Eddie Izzard defended J.K. Rowling, 55, saying she doesn't believe the author is transphobic (pictured this month)

Defence: Eddie Izzard defended J.K. Rowling, 55, saying she doesn’t believe the author is transphobic (pictured this month)

Last June, J.K. was accused of transphobia after making a controversial comment about menstruation, two years after she liked a tweet which referred to transgender people as ‘men in dresses’. 

The author denied claims of transphobia as she insisted she ‘respects every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them’. 

Eddie, who last year asked to be referred to with ‘she”https://www.dailymail.co.uk/”her’ pronouns, after previously refusing to be pinned down on gender, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘I don’t think JK Rowling is transphobic. 

Under fire: Last June, J.K. was accused of transphobia after making a controversial comment about menstruation (pictured in December 2019)

Under fire: Last June, J.K. was accused of transphobia after making a controversial comment about menstruation (pictured in December 2019) 

‘I think we need to look at the things she has written about in her blog.’

Eddie continued: ‘Women have been through such hell over history. Trans people have been invisible, too. I hate the idea we are fighting between ourselves, but it’s not going to be sorted with the wave of a wand. 

‘I don’t have all the answers. If people disagree with me, fine – but why are we going through hell on this?’ 

J.K. was accused of transphobia last year when she reacted to an online article titled ‘Opinion: Creating a more equal post COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.’

”People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?’, the award-winning writer told her 14.2million followers. 

Disappointed fans and other users of the micro-blogging site branded the screenwriter’s remarks ‘anti-trans’ and ‘transphobic’, as transgenders, non-binary and gender-nonconforming individuals can also menstruate.