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# Ofcom boss criticises BBC’s platforming of anti-trans groups
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/ofcom-boss-criticises-bbcs-platforming-of-anti-trans-groups/
- Published: 2020-12-17T13:30:35.000Z
- Updated: 2020-12-17T12:31:25.000Z
- Description: Ofcom chief executive, Melanie Dawes, criticised the BBC for ‘balancing’ out trans voices with anti-trans groups.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Television, BBC, LGBTQ, Melanie Dawes, Ofcom, Tim Davie, Trans Rights, Transgender, UK News

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/melanie-dawes-ofcom-1.jpg)

Melanie Dawes

**Ofcom** chief executive, **Melanie Dawes**, criticised the **BBC** for ‘balancing’ out trans voices with anti-trans groups, such as the LGB Alliance, when asked about the broadcaster’s non-bias policies. On **December 15**, Dawes was [asked,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSdLCTZoSoA&feature=youtu.be&ref=scenemag.co.uk) before parliament’s **Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee**, their opinion on the BBC’s current editorial practice of requiring critical voices in all discussions relating to transgender people, to which they responded it was *“extremely inappropriate”*.

**Scottish National Party** MP and previous BBC broadcaster, **John Nicolson**, discussed the issue with Dawes, saying: *“I noticed that the BBC seems to be under the impression that it’s got to ‘balance’ all its reports about trans issues so by calling in transphobic groups like the so-called LGB Alliance to give a counter-argument. I think this is absurd because you would never do a report on racism, for example, and call in a racist organisation to say that they don’t think that Black people have a right to equality.”* Dawes appeared in agreement, and said Ofcom is working to provide information to broadcasters to try and prevent them from *“bringing inappropriate voices to the table”* on topics such as LGBTQ+ rights.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/bbc-1.jpg)

The BBC came under fire after it included a comment from the anti-trans LGB Alliance in an [article ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55015959?ref=scenemag.co.uk)about long waiting times for the NHS’s only gender clinic, which argued young people should not be able to ‘self-diagnose’ gender dysphoria. The broadcaster has also been subject of [criticism](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/update-bbc-director-insists-the-company-supports-lgbtq-staff/) after company staff were told they should not participate in *“public demonstrations or gatherings about controversial issues”* on the basis of the BBC’s impartial stance, which reportedly extended to LGBTQ+ centred events. BBC director, **Tim Davie**, responded to backlash, saying: *“I want to be as straightforward as I can on the BBC’s policy: it’s not controversial to be lesbian, or gay, or bisexual, or transgender – either at work or outside of work.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/trans-rights-human-rights.png)