‘Thanks for being a trailblazer!’ Eddie Izzard applauded by viewers for requesting the use of ‘she’ and ‘her’ pronouns during latest TV appearance
Eddie Izzard was applauded for requesting the use of ‘she’ and her ‘pronouns’ during a recent TV appearance.
The comedian, 58, appeared on Thursday’s Sky Arts programme Portrait Artist Of The Year in which contestants had to create a portrait of the star.
And viewers catching up with the programme over the weekend were mightily impressed at Eddie being addressed with her preferred pronouns, with one even remarking: ‘Thanks for being a trailblazer.’
Praise: Eddie Izzard, 58, was applauded for requesting the use of ‘she’ and her ‘pronouns’ during a recent TV appearance on Thursday’s Sky Arts programme Portrait Artist Of The Year
During the show, Eddie directly asked if she could publicly be referred to as ‘she’ and her’, confirming that she was ‘gender fluid.’
She said: ‘This is the first programme I’ve asked if I can be she and her, a little transition period.
‘People just assume, well, know me from before… I’m genderfluid, I just want to be based in girl mode from now on.’
Taking to Twitter in the days after the show was aired, fans praised the TV personality and shared positive messages of support.
Applauded: Viewers catching up with the programme over the weekend were mightily impressed at Eddie being addressed with her preferred pronouns, with one even remarking: ‘Thanks for being a trailblazer’
‘Watched Eddie on Portrait Artist of the Year this week. She’s an amazing and clever person,’ commented one viewer.
While another tweeted: ‘*Runs downstairs to watch the latest Portrait Artist of the Year to see Eddie Izzard say she uses she/her pronouns now* An ICON.’
‘Just watched Portrait Artist of the Year with Eddie Izzard…first public outing as she/her (gender fluid) how refreshing’ remarked a third person.
Request: During the show, Eddie directly asked if she could publicly be referred to as ‘she’ and her’, confirming that she was ‘gender fluid’ (pictured in 2019)
‘Just discovered Eddie Izzard now uses she/her pronouns. love you Eddie, thanks for being a trail blazer’ shared a fourth watcher.
While another added: ‘Good for Eddie Izzard asking for the pronouns she/her to be used so publicly. As far as I can gather, she isn’t a trans woman – she’s gender fluid – but prefers the feminine pronoun. Good for her.’
There were also many comments defending Eddie from naysayers, with one tweeting: ‘The amount of people being transphobic towards eddie izzard using she/her pronouns is awful,, people can use whatever pronouns they feel comfortable with and the only thing you have to do is respect that,, it isn’t hard to be kind.’
In July last year, Eddie asked to be called a ‘she’, despite previously refusing to be pinned down on gender, describing an identity that is ‘boyish and girlish’.
Support: Taking to Twitter in the days after the show was aired, fans praised the TV personality and shared positive messages of support
While receiving an honorary degree at Swansea University, she made the request.
The ceremony’s press release used female pronouns to celebrate Izzard’s career, saying: ‘In 2009 she completed 43 marathons in 51 days…
‘She has been a Labour party activist for most of her life… She twice attempted to be elected for a seat on Labour’s National Executive.’ A university spokesman said: ‘We were asked by Eddie to use her/she pronouns in the press release.’
Izzard identified as a transvestite on rising to prominence in the 80s, but more recently has preferred to use the term ‘transgender’.
The star told The Mail on Sunday in September: ‘When I’m in girl mode I am happy to be known as “she” and when I’m in boy-mode, I am happy to be known as “he”. But I am equally happy to be referred to as Eddie or “Hey mate”.’
Preference: In July last year, Eddie asked to be called a ‘she’ while receiving an honorary degree at Swansea University, despite previously refusing to be pinned down on gender