Entertainment
Munroe Bergdorf on ‘transphobic’ TV debates: ‘We’re in this very precarious time’-Louise Griffin-Entertainment – Metro
‘Even if they don’t want to say it’s transphobic, it’s transphobic.’
Munroe Bergdorf opened up on representation on TV (Picture: John Phillips/WireImage)
Munroe Bergdorf has opened up on it being a ‘precarious moment in time’ for the trans community, as she addressed the constant TV ‘debates’ about trans people.
The model and activist, chatted to Metro.co.uk as Queerpiphany, her show with Drag Race UK star Tayce, hits YouTube.
During episode one, guest Yasmin Finney references Munroe’s Good Morning Britain interview in 2018, during which she clashed with presenter Piers Morgan. Four years on, daytime TV hosts are still having ‘debates’ about the trans community.
‘It hasn’t been an easy ride for me,’ Munroe reflected.
‘I think we’re in this very precarious moment in time when it comes to trans rights and I think that it’s very reminiscent of where gay men were in the 1980s and 90s with this mass hysteria over – at the time, it was gay men, now it’s trans people. Like, what does that mean if we have equal rights? Should we be allowed in the spaces we want to be in? All these things are being debated about trans people were being debated about gay men in the 1980s and 1990s so we know exactly where it’s rooted. Even if they don’t want to say it’s transphobic, it’s transphobic.
‘It’s really, really difficult, a lot of the time, but we are making huge strides and the media has a massive impact on the general consensus within society, like we saw with gay men with how television programming had a big impact on people understanding that community, from Sex and the City to Will and Grace and just having that element of laughter.’
Prioritising humour and laughter is something Munroe and Tayce are focused on in their show Queerphiphany, which has returned for season two on MTV’s YouTube channel.
‘This is a show that can empower all people, whether or not you’re queer,’ she explained.
‘I think that the most important thing is showing that we all have that moment, that “Aha” moment in helping us to understand who we are, giving us permission to be our whole selves,’ she added.
‘That feeling of being able to laugh at the moments that are difficult, it’s something that brings us together and I think this show – I can’t even remember what we talked about because we were so in the moment and having fun. But I think that’s really what it’s about and showing that it doesn’t all need to be serious all the time.’
Munroe spoke about the importance of humour (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Gay Times)
As Munroe pointed out, TV has made huge strides with representation, as exemplified by Queerpiphany’s guest on episode one, Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney.
‘It’s been amazing to see how easily she’s taken to being in the public eye. When I was 19, the environment I was in and the state of the country and the lack of representation, that just never could have happened back then, for a 19-year-old trans girl to come out and be part of the industry,’ Munroe said.
‘I think it shows how far we’ve come. The fact that we live in a world that someone like Yasmin can gain success is amazing and she does it so well and so many people get empowered from her. She’s an absolute powerhouse of talent.’
However, there is still a way to go with representation on TV.
Munroe revealed she’s actually turned down various reality TV shows, explaining: ‘I think there’s lots that I want to do before I start doing all of the game show things, no shade at all!
‘I think if I was ever to do one of those shows, it would be Strictly. I’m actually asked to do a lot of them every single season and I always say no, because I think if I ever was gonna do one of them, it would be Strictly. I can’t imagine myself going in the jungle, I’m far too high maintenance, I can’t imagine myself doing Dancing On Ice because I would break my neck!’
‘I’m not gunning to do it anytime soon, but if I was going to do one of them, it would be Strictly,’ she added.
As for what she’s most excited about right now, Munroe is booked and busy with Queerpiphany and her upcoming book – and we absolutely love to see it.
The first episode of Queerpiphany S2 is available now on MTV UK YouTube.
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