Sophie Ellis-Bextor slams transphobes: ‘They make trans people their whole personality’
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has called out transphobia in the UK (Lorne Thomson/Redferns)
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has called out transphobia in the UK (Lorne Thomson/Redferns)
Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor has hit out at the level of transphobia in UK.
Speaking to The Independent about her new album Perimenopop, Ellis-Bextor – whose 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” shot back up the charts last year thanks to being on the soundtrack of Saltburn – discussed the activity of transphobic individuals on social media.
“These people make trans people their whole personality and spend their entire day checking their socials and being angry, whereas trans people themselves just want to be under the radar and live their lives,” Ellis-Bextor said.
“There was a time when Pride felt like a celebration of all the shoulders that people were able to stand on but now it feels like it’s an absolute political necessity. I suppose you have to be optimistic that things will get better again but I do get very down about it.
“I had one of my friends go on quite a weird flip, and it was really affecting me. You definitely need to assert that you feel really differently, and find ways to support what you believe is the right side of history.”
Ellis-Bextor has long had a queer following and last year said she loved playing at Pride events because there was always a “very inclusive, supportive, warm audience”.
Ahead of performing at WeHo Pride, she told Billboard: “I know we talk a lot about being your authentic self to the point where we kind of don’t think about what that means, but actually being able to feel comfortable in your own skin is one of the biggest things you can do for someone… the fact you get that in a very pure form at events like Pride is a joyous thing.
“It’s been those shows that I’ve done that have kind of crystallised and helped me feel safe on stage, excited and relaxed. My lack of inhibition is completely down to them.”
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