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Apparently the BBC (UK) has had 144 complaints about a recent episode of #DoctorWho because it contained an openly #trans character.

I'm going to make a complaint to the BBC that there weren't enough #transgender characters in Doctor Who. I would love if 144 other people did the same thing. Here's the link: bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints/m…

(For your easy reference: "The Star Beast" aired on 25/11/2023, BBC One, and the trans character is called Rose.)

Reply when you've done it, so we can count us all. When we get to 145, everyone... gets a free BLÅHAJ? 🦈

Edit: 2 days later, mission successful: 159 complaints/comments submitted, and still climbing! A *huge* thank you everyone - stay tuned for hopefully some freedom of information requests!

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Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

I would love to do this, but am in the US. Would it count anyway? If so, which channel does Doctor Who air on at the BBC??
Als Antwort auf LJ

It's BBC One, and they ask for your postcode partway through so I suspect you may not be able to join in! :(

Edit: It turns out that you can join in even if you're not in the UK, and the complaint form accommodates many countries! :)

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Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

bummer. I thought the episode and Rose specifically were brilliant.
Als Antwort auf LJ

@LJ Yeah I thought that one and last week's one were great, I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's!
@LJ
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

@LJ No problems complaining from Germany. If they ask, I had been visiting a friend. 🤷‍♀️
@LJ
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

@LJ no you dont need a password and you dont need to be a uk citizen but they do require a valid email
@LJ
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

and done!

My complaint:

"For a show about a main character who can be any gender,
there have been far too few trans characters on this show. Rose was a good start."

:)

Als Antwort auf LJ

@LJ I'm in the US and I did it anyway. My comment went through. You have to answer bbc1 though or it doesn't work.
@LJ
Als Antwort auf slow learner, deep feeler

@melanie @LJ Ahhh that's great! You're the second person who said it worked outside of the UK so I am going to update the social posts. 👍
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Cassian [main]
@cumush Really good! :)
@CU
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Cassian [main]
@sentinian Thank you! :) ✨
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

How’s that inappropriate? She’s just a kind hearted kid who wanted to help people / aliens. I think that’s a classic whovian character!
Als Antwort auf 🌻 Farah

@farah A gross combination of "too woke" and "trans women are inherently perverts" I think! 🙄 Ugh.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

105 boosts already! If half of those people have made a complaint we're a third of the way to the goal. :)
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

135 boosts, and 17 complaints. >:D

Also, I'm told you can take part even if you live outside of the UK, because the BBC provide services to many countries outside of the UK, including the USA! So, it's a lot more broad in audience than I realised. :)

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

554 boosts and 457 likes in 14 hours, but have I been on the mastodon.social Explore page? Nope, and the top one on there has 213 boosts and 207 likes.

I have to assume the mastodon.social Explore page moderation policy says "no calls to action" or something like that?? Because it's absolutely FULL of USA politics all day every day... mastodon.social/explore

Anyway, I've just finished counting responses from Fediverse people from overnight while I was asleep, and over on Tumblr I got reblogged by Diane Duane and Neil Gaiman so there are over 7,000 notes to go through.........!!!!!! I'll keep you posted. :D (im scared)

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Okay, I've gone through all the replies here and on Tumblr.

90 people have confirmed that they've made a complaint or positive feedback submission about it, which is 62% of the way to 145. Only 55 more complaints to go!

Here's the link: bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints/m… Complain that there weren't enough trans characters, as we're trying to counter the 144 complaints about the presence of a trans woman in the episode.

(For your easy reference: "The Star Beast" aired on 25/11/2023, BBC One, and the trans character is called Rose.)

Reply when you've done it, so we can count us all. And please consider boosting the OP above!

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

It's now up to 132, which is 91% - and that's just 13 complaints left before we've sent more trans-supportive complaints/comments in 48 hours than the anti-trans people sent in 2 weeks!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

For some of us who live outside the UK, we have to choose BBC One for the channel... there's no option to complain when it's on Disney+ in NZ.
I slight cheat, but a worthwhile one, I think.
Als Antwort auf Maisie Summers

@maisiesummers Oh yeah, that's awkward, but also I think the BBC would understand the white lie - if they notice, they should fix their form rather than e.g. ditching your complaint!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

According to my count we're now up to 156, which means we have submitted more comments/complaints in favour of *more* trans people in Doctor Who than the anti-trans people have submitted against trans people in Doctor Who. AMAZING!!

One potential plan is to wait for this BBC complaints page to update: bbc.co.uk/contact/complaint-se… Hopefully that won't be too long after 17th December.

However, since the transphobes complaining about Doctor Who has been the topic of several articles lately, I might submit a Freedom of Information Act request sooner than that, and include a request for the number of comments submitted in favour of trans characters too (since that doesn't show up on the complaints count).

Then I might send a press release to every news website that published the "144 transphobes" non-news and see what happens. :D

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

interesting that the media decided to cover the transphobic complaints, but ignore the pro-trans ones?
Als Antwort auf Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦

@rysiek As far as I know there were under 100 pro-trans complaints about the trans-containing episode until I started getting involved so the BBC wouldn't have published them, and the BCC don't routinely publish compliment counts, and the BBC haven't published a fortnightly over-100-complaints disclosure since I started getting involved, so it's not at all surprising really!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

I'm counting this as a win: bbc.co.uk/contact/complaint/do…

I keep being busy and distracted, but my next step will be contacting the complaints team to ask how many complaints and comments they've had on either side.

Teryl's Tales of Whim~ hat dies geteilt.

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

*From the US

Verify Submission
Email Verification Complete

Thanks for taking the time to contact us.

If you asked for a reply or an acknowledgement, you'll receive an automated acknowledgement confirming we've received it.

BBC Feedback Team

Als Antwort auf Mycotropic

@mycotropic Thank you! I hope US responses are taken into account, I'm not 100% sure. :S
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

The form acknowledged their cross pond reach via streaming services. My family pays for BritBox and I tend to buy Dr Who on DVD as they become available so I do actually care about this!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

@mycotropic
fyi, It's on Disney+ streaming in the USA, and I think Canada as they put up some of the funding.
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Cassian [main]
@erebion Thank you, this is wonderful! :) Also you're #14 on my spreadsheet!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

I left a complaint. I also suggested they should bring back Ace as a nonbinary character.
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Cassian [main]
@MandyMay @StingrayBadger Beautiful! :) And you're #16!
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Cassian [main]
@erebion Fantastic. ❤
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Done. And at least one more complaint by a friend. And boosted.

Thanks for sharing.

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Have whatever sexuality you want on the show. Pretty sure most people dont like the excessive retconning
Als Antwort auf bassplayer

@bassplayer I am confused - being trans isn't a sexuality. Also, what retconning are you referring to?
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

sorry I'm old so I'm not up on the latest terms. From what reviews I've seen it was something about the timeless children episode. Which retconns the 1st doctor is not really the 1st doctor. There also seems to be a lot of preachy your cis what would you know. Contrast that with Arcane which has far better writing with many different layers. youtu.be/hML-FGHGEN4?si=DhJQGr…
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

From what I understand the last two seasons had a lot of it. I stopped watching after the curly haired dude was gone. Got to be too cheezy for me. If you love it more power to ya.
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Cassian [main]
@Neferure Great stuff, thank you! :) You're #18!
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Cassian [main]
@StephanieMoore Thank you so much - you're #19! :)
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Cassian [main]
@Neferure The debate sounds fun, I love that. :D
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Cassian [main]
@dans Yeah, it *was* a great episode, and all the articles reporting the 144 complaints like it's a scandal should be saying "after 7.61mil viewers watched the episode, only 144 complaints about the trans character, showing that the public are largely supportive of trans people" or whatnot!
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Cassian [main]
@Neferure An impressive argument, I cannot counter it!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Too few people understand that pouring your energy into 'anti-wokeism' serves the establishment in the exact same way as pouring your energy into identity politics, because they don’t really care about either.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Another respondant from the US here, working toward a future where our existence and representation are completely unworthy of note!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Back in the 60s, pretty much ALL the southern states REFUSED to air an episode of Star Trek that had Kirk (white) kiss Uhuru (black), even if it was a forced kiss by telekinetic whackos. Fucking bigots.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Here is my comment for the BBC: This is a great show but the latest episode highlights how little coverage of lgbtq characters have been represented on the program. Considering the past discrimination and even legal persecution of gay persons and people with alternative lifestyles, in particular the shameful prosecution of the gay war hero alan turing it is long past time the bbc should represent lgbtq persons fairly as the morally responsible and upstanding o po eople the truly
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Cassian [main]
@freedom_baird Thank you! :) Also, you're response #27!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Done from Germany. I am not trans but hate the haters and love Dr Who. Brilliant action. ❤️
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

I'm glad you specified that it was only two in this special. Because if the Doctor counts as transgender, than within the show the Master, Kenossium (The General), and the Corsair also count ... and that's just the timelords we know of who changed gender
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Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

@ahimsa_pdx
Am I wrong in thinking that, given how rabidly anti-trans much of the British media and political class are, 144 is an encouragingly low number of bigots?
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Als Antwort auf Voline

@Voline @ahimsa_pdx Yes, it is absurdly low. :D One of my friends said they probably get more complaints when David Tennant changes his hair!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Posted complaint! Thank you so much for organizing this, the news stories on the "complaints" were giving me a headache.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

saving for later when I'm at my computer and can write a long complaint to include more diversity in productions.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Daleks do Daleks things. Complaining about Transgenders is pretty much Dalek stuff, isn't it?
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

If the thoughts of144 people are a cause for concern, the series should be canceled for poor viewership.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Complained from Canada.

I love that my complaint was very similar to yours, even though I didn't read yours ahead of time. Same subject. I however, requested at least 4 trans characters be on screen at all times.

And of course I thanked them for the representation and encouraged them to keep DW inclusive.

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

I did figured it out. its a small issue of how I had to figure out screen reader usage on that form.
Als Antwort auf lights_rage

@lights_rage Ahhhh, I'm glad you worked it out! :) Thank you for participating, you're #46!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

My instinct is that of those 114 complaints, 109 of them came from some messed-up TERF group with a phone tree and a cut-and-paste-this-complaint system.
Als Antwort auf Negative12DollarBill

@negative12dollarbill Very similar to my instinct! :D But I'm kinda doing something similar myself, so I can't be that critical, haha :D
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Dr Who is an alien with two hearts who can travel through time and space at will with their magic police box space ship, and this is all fine - but someone wearing clothes that are not matched with their birth gender and conservatives are frothing at the mouth.
These conservatives need to spend less time worrying about other folks genitals. It's not healthy.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

"dear the BBC, remember when I complained about you platforming a TERF. well now I'm complaining because you only responded with a half-measure to fix that problem."
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Cassian [main]
@rancoisse Thank you, you're #39! :)
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Cassian [main]
@realtegan Beautiful, thank you! :) You're #40!
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Cassian [main]
@noracodes Wonderful, thank you - you're #41! :)
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Aha that’s a brilliant way to respond to this! Looking forward to Deadline’s “Doctor Who Gets More Than 1000 Complaints Over Inappropriate Lack Of Transgender Characters” article. I’ve just submitted mine :)
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Cassian [main]
@OrionKidder Great stuff, thank you - you're number 48! :)
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

You missed a "has" in your message. It should read "Doctor Who only [has] two trans..."
Als Antwort auf Nova

@normalnova Alas, I just noticed that about half an hour ago 🤦 But I have already submitted it so I can't change it now. 🤷
@Nova
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Cassian [main]
@Ignobleatrabiliario That's brilliant, thank you so much! :) Also you're #53!
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Cassian [main]
@itziarsantin Thank you very much! :) Also, you're #54!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

@cy here's the text of my complaint:

"I've been a fan since the original airing of the Tom Baker episodes when I was ten (in 1972, iirc). By 19 I knew I was trans, but as you know, trans people have existed for the whole of human history, but it wasn't until 2014 that series producers showed The Master as Missy, and not until 2018 that producers allowed Jodie Whittaker to take The Doctor's role. The BBC touts itself as progressive, so why has it taken until 2023 for a companion to be openly trans or trans supporting? The Doctor, as David Tennant, is, as far as I know, the only reason this is possible. Why has it taken you so long? Doesn't it seem like there should be trans characters in positive roles going forward for recompense for this obvious and cruel oversight to be allowed to persist for 51 years (2014-1963)?"

I required a response and gave my US address. And personal email address.

@cy
Als Antwort auf Mal 甄/kalessin/Peri

@perigee @cy Great stuff, thank you. :) I've just gone through all my Tumblr notes and added those to my list, so you're #78, whooof!
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Cassian [main]
@freedom_baird Awwww thank you! :)
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Cassian [main]
@kidskylark Thank you so much - you're number 86! :)
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Cassian [main]

@Ignobleatrabiliario Yes, I think the spirit of your message shines through! :) The BBC complaints people will totally understand the gist. 👍

You're welcome, and thank you for taking part - it's up to 90 people now!

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

this is nothing. People send BBC complaints all the time, it’s only being reported to give transphobes a bigger microphone.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

if anything, #BBC needs to be boycotted for platforming #TransGenocide-Advocates and #Hatespeech...

github.com/greyhat-academy/lis…

#Pirating #DoctorWho is thus an act of mutual defense!

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Cassian [main]
@cakeisnotalie @glennsills Genderfluid is generally considered to be under the trans umbrella, is my understanding? So maybe probably kinda both but also they're not human and it's complicated. :)
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

@cakeisnotalie I don't know but let's face it the guy regenerated from a man to a woman. You don't get any more trans than that. Unless you are in the One Piece universe and that doesn't count.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Hi! I've registered a complaint asking for more transgender representation, I really hope we bring about some positive change!
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Cassian [main]
@lewiscowles1986 Thank you, you're #115! :) (Also, complaint numbers aren't for referring to other people's complaints, so I think probably giving you my complaint number wouldn't work!)
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Cassian [main]
@lewiscowles1986 I've just been keeping track of all the confirmations I'm getting on Tumblr, here, and elsewhere - so we can all celebrate when we get to 145 and we've officially sent in more complaints than the anti-trans people!
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Cassian [main]
@bugbear Oh, truuuue, I'll ask him. :)
Als Antwort auf Jargoggles

@jargoggles That's amazing, thank you - you're complaint number 145, which means we've submitted more complaints than the gender-criticals have! :)
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Nice! Now all that's left is to pressure news outlets to cover this like they did with those bigoted complaints.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

@mwl I’m always amazed at how angry people can get with stuff like this. To me she was just cute
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Hmmm, technically speaking, the *Doctor* is trans whenever regenerating as a different gender...

In M. A. Foster's book _The Transformer Trilogy_, the main character can transform into a 20-year-younger version of themself - but does a gender switch each time.

Great story.

goodreads.com/series/42419-tra…
@neilhimself

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

I want to comment on how funny it is that all the chuds were proclaiming how RTD was going to purge the wokes from Doctor Who and make it cool again, and then the first thing he does when he gets back on the show was introduce a trans character.

Suck it.

Als Antwort auf LoneWolf

@LoneWolf Oh that's excellent, I had no idea people were saying RTD was going to purge the wokes! :D
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Cassian [main]

@Pagan_Animist Oh, people have been telling me that you can still complain if you're in the US?

I'm just checking out the form now, and in the "2. Your Details" section there's an option to say you're outside of the UK, and then a textbox to type your location. Does that show up for you?

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Those same folks who complained? They loved it when Benny Hill dressed up in drag every week.
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Cassian [main]
@holsta Thank you so much! By my count, you are number 143!
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Cassian [main]
@Bearfaced Thank you, that's great - you're #148! (I did not mean to rhyme, but there we are. :D)
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Cassian [main]
@vasyasovari Thank you, you're #153! :)
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Dec.tar.gz
@luna @LJ
W1A 1AA
BT2 8HQ
@LJ
Als Antwort auf Dec.tar.gz

@dec23k @luna @LJ No need - the form accommodates many countries outside of the UK, it turned out. :)
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Isn’t the 13th Doctor a trans character by definition since she was as a man before and become a woman? How did they miss that?
Als Antwort auf DogeMocenigo

@dogemocenigo For all we know, they all complained about that when it happened, as well. 🤷
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

They complained about a woman doctor, IIRC, not about the “trans” bit (which in this case I mention mostly to annoy them more, since it is not a transition in the human sense).
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

@neilhimself Ignoring the stupidity and meanness of anti-trans opinions in general, how can you be a fan of the Doctor Who universe with everything it entails and still hold this viewpoint?!?
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Obviously, you wish it was zero complaints, but the BBC only getting 144 complaints from bigots actually makes me feel hopeful…I expected a much larger vocal minority than that. Only 144 seems like…well, not NOTHING, but almost nothing.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

do these people not recall the Alpha Centauran ambassador to Pelador!?
Als Antwort auf David P

@pewnack Hmmmm, I guess it makes sense that it would do weird things in various countries. 🤔 Submitting feedback via that page seems fine though! :)
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

FWIW there were hints that Lady Cassandra was trans as well although she wasn't exactly *good* rep given the context of the throwaway joke in which that was indicated.
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

This is fantastic! (Both the #trans representation and the fedi solidarity demanding more of same). I haven’t watched the series since Eccleston’s rotation in series 9–and in fact never before that—but I will definitely tune in this year!
Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Als Antwort auf Cassian [main]

Mission Accomplished. thanks for letting us know this happened. It would be ridiculous if we never saw Rose again due to some thoroughly unnecessary, small minded behavior.