Complaint
A viewer complained the programme contained a biased and misogynistic account of the debate over the participation of trans women in women鈥檚 sport, as the sole interviewee was a trans woman with a particular view, and no other voices were heard. The ECU considered the complaint against the 大象传媒 Guidelines on Impartiality and those on Accuracy.
Outcome
The guidelines allow for the airing of views on controversial matters and due impartiality does not require that these are always countered by a guest with an opposing perspective. 聽In this case, in the ECU鈥檚 view, the interview with Dr Joanna Harper, a trans woman, included聽 sufficient context and challenge for listeners to be aware of the controversy in this area. 聽For example the introduction mentioned the fact Lia Thomas had been breaking swimming records leading to the Sports Federation FINA wanting to toughen regulations on trans participation.聽 The presenter also raised the advantages people born male would bring to competition:
Are the current rules enough to remove an advantage that someone assigned male at birth would have in a women鈥檚 competition?
In the ECU鈥檚 judgement it would have been apparent to the audience that Dr Harper鈥檚 identity informed her perspective and she was airing her view, informed by her research 鈥 not 聽statements of established or undisputed fact.聽
The complainant also described this as a discussion solely about the fairness of women鈥檚 sport, in light of which they considered it problematic that it was discussed by 鈥渢wo males鈥, and therefore misogynistic.聽 The guidelines do not set restrictions on who may discuss what 鈥 that is a matter of editorial discretion. 聽Moreover the conversation concerned not only the fairness of women鈥檚 sport but the broader question of inclusion and trans athletes.
Not Upheld