From Anon1

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

I am still baffled how any organisation can claim to be 'inclusive', yet cancel a play because they don't like the views of the playwright. Particularly when the play itself has nothing to do with the views that people are complaining about. This is cancel culture in action and may well be a breach of the Equality Act by discriminating against someone purely on the grounds of their protected belief. The response of the little theatre to the demand to cancel this play  is disappointing. 

From Paula F

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Another example of a puritanical minority in Hebden Bridge giving the town a bad reputation

From Elly E

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Graham Linehan's views are utterly reprehensible. He has likened gender affirming care to Nazi eugenics and called people who support trans rights like David Tennant 'groomers'. He is a sad and bitter man. Public institutions should be inclusive spaces for all, where people from all walks of life feel safe, listened to and respected, which is why the Little Theatre is right to cancel its production.

It is right that Graham Linehan's work be boycotted. Obviously abuse directed towards the Little Theatre is uncalled for, especially as they have said they were unaware of Linehan's views.

There seems to be a pervading view on this forum that trans people are a 'puritanical minority who will 'cancel' anyone whose views they don't agree with, and who act with mob-like cruelty. I would like to ask readers to step into a trans person's shoes. Imagine if the healthcare you needed to survive was being equated with 'Nazi Eugenics'. Imagine if you were being called 'abusive' or a 'groomer,' on the basis of who you are or how you decide to live your life. Imagine all that on top of all the national issues, including a crackdown on gender-affirming care, the Supreme Court ruling, discrimination in the work place, housing market and on the street etc as well as all the BS we all have to go through; cost of living, housing crisis etc.

Of course there will be those, like in any minority, who take things too far, and do not speak for the whole group. Trans people are not a hive mind. Secondly, if Hebden Bridge's 'bad reputation' is the reputation of an inclusive, open, caring environment, a haven from the mostly transphobic rest-of-the-country, where people are mindful to others, then I guess it's true. Deciding not to put on a play by a divisive, bitter man, who does not believe in inclusion, equality or freedom of speech, is not discrimination or exclusion. It is choosing inclusion, and consideration towards a marginalised group, as well as basic optics.

From Dave Boardman

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

I'm afraid I find Elly E's views a bit strange. S/he says Graham Linehan is "a sad and bitter man" among other things. Anyone who has had to deal with the level of abuse and cancellation he has had is entitled to be a bit sad and bitter – being cancelled by Hebden Bridge Little Theatre is just one of many instances of him suffering at the pens of people who disagree with him.

"Public institutions should be inclusive spaces for all" Elly says, unless of course you have different – legally accepted – views from those who think cancellation culture is somehow 'inclusive'.

If, as s/he says "it is right that Graham Linehan's work be boycotted", then boycott it, but to ensure others are not allowed to see it is beyond a boycott. Cancellation not saying no one should see it, it is saying no one should be allowed to see it. Can someone explain how that is 'inclusive'?

Elly adds that "there seems to be a pervading view on this forum that trans people are a puritanical minority". This is a conclusion some come to due to the targeted cancellations we can all see. However, it is not my opinion, or experience. My opinion, based on experience – much but not all of it, in Hebden Bridge – it that the prefix 'trans' is used, or more accurately abused, by authoritarian types who think they can say what they like about anyone as long as they add 'trans' to a label and hide behind it.

I assume most trans allies are decent people but they tend to be guilty of looking the other way when some others with a 'trans' prefix call for women to be hanged, raped, tortured or thrown out of their jobs. Too many are willing to let such abuse go unchallenged and as a consequence many people – especially women – are afraid to speak out on issues of women's sports for example. 

Imagine being a woman and being told that you, collectively, can't define 'women's spaces', 'women's safety' and being told you are a nazi if you try. I know many women who are angered by that who live in this area, but do not speak out. I am retired so have no job to lose. Imagine having a Supreme Court ruling that defines women and women's facilities that is constantly undermined by the Elly's of this world

"Of course", Elly says, "there will be those … who take things too far, and do not speak for the whole group". Well, if you are not going to allow others to speak up against them you should be doing it yourself and making it clear that the abusers and bullies do not speak for the rest of you and stop pretending that the abuse, jobs losses, fear that women face should be ignored. 

I used to put on quizzes at the Trades Club. Recently it was suggested that I should do a quiz to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians. It turns out that the Trades Club thinks I am an "unsuitable" person because I am opposed to the abuse a certain Ms Rowling faces. Nothing to do with Palestine. 

Now, Elly thinks I shouldn't be allowed to go to a local theatre to see a play which apparently has nothing to do with the issues but is by someone s/he abhors…I'm not sure if that is the case, but Elly doesn't want me to find out which is somewhat anti-educational.

From Greta G

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Elly E, what you call "gender affirming care" ... might be using untested strong and dramatic hormonal treatments, often on people too young to truly understand even the obvious impact of losing their fertility, never mind any other effects/side effects we don't understand yet?

It's important that treatments used on anybody, and perhaps especially on minors, be thoroughly trialled and understood first.

There are now official, carefully conducted trials going ahead, that will look at both physical and emotional/psychological impacts of these treatments, and that's hopefully a good thing.  Though there are those who are concerned that many participants in these trials will be minors, and in a sense no one really knows what constitutes ethical and legal consent for many of these young people. 

There are a lot of issues for society, institutions and individuals to consider very carefully, and being clear about this is not anti-trans prejudice.

From Anon 3

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

I wasn't party to this decision to cancel the play. I believe it was taken in order to protect the cast and crew from threats and abuse.

From T Smith

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

Sending my love, support and solidarity to Elly E

Everything you say is provably correct.

From Maura Wilson

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

The contribution of Anon 3 is worrying. If there was a fear that cast and crew would suffer threats and abuse, they would presumably come from those who didn't want the play to be performed. Was this the case?

From Sarah P

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

As a woman who enjoys science fiction reading very much, I choose at times to read older sf books. These often have at the very least sexist attitudes, focussing almost exclusively on male main characters, and sometimes portraying some female characters as variously inept.

The point is, I get to choose.  I can decide to enjoy the stories, despite the sexist underlying (or sometimes overt) narrative. It doesn't in any way force or coerce me to agree with those aspects. I can enjoy the artistic creative content of the stories, while being aware the situations described are far from perfect.

Banning plays and other art when it isn't even the content of the play itself that might be seen as offensive, takes away the right to choose. Are we going to ban Harry Potter because JK Rowling has particular views? Somehow no one is suggesting this! In fact remakes of various of the films are in progress. So ...?

From Chris Dellen

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

Anon 3's view that the decision to cancel the production of Linehan's play was to protect the cast and crew is one that I share.  I have a great deal of sympathy for anyone who has been put in this position.

The cancellation tactics of trans rights activists, including smearing dissenters as transphobic right wing bigots, is not compatible with claiming to be in favour of inclusion and free speech.  Hopefully, the more these tactics are exposed the more the public will feel able to stand up to this bullying.

At the moment though people are naturally protective of their jobs, family, and perhaps their reputation as being progressive.

When so many people don't feel able to speak out about their perfectly legal views on sex realism, women's rights, and the need for child protection the trans rights movement's reframing of these views as transphobic appears to be culturally dominant.  I don't believe this is the case.  I think most people, even in Hebden Bridge understand what sex is and that it is it is important and immutable - and they shouldn't have to be afraid of saying so.

From Elly E

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

I think some perspective needed. Being cancelled is not being shouted at on twitter. It isn't when a small local theatre decides to not do your play. Often people, usually privileged white men, complaining about being cancelled are doing so from a sold out stand up comedy set, or a national TV programme, or to a loyal following online. Being cancelled is; not having those platforms on which to speak, being arrested for your views, like so many Palestine protesters were this year, or the hunger strikers languishing in prison at the moment. Immigrants are being bundled into the backs of vans by ICE in the States. Social media often makes us lose the bigger picture.

Trans people are afraid to go outside, or worse, hurt themselves, because our lives are used as a political football, to distract from the real issues facing our society. No mainstream trans activist doesn't think their should be constructive, amicable debates around the issues of women's sports and single sex spaces. The problem is the media has whipped everyone into a frenzy over the issue. We simply want to be able to live our lives, with access to the healthcare we need, just live everyone else should. 

Mr Linehan has not been 'cancelled'. I'm sure he's happy in whatever large house in the country his royalties affords him. At the end of the day, I frankly do not care if people go to see his play (which surely is not as good as the original film) or watch his TV shows. I merely think that people should be aware of his history. As I mentioned in my first post, Dave, he has done more than simply express an opinion around the issue of trans rights. He was arrested and convicted for damaging another's property. It's entirely reasonable to imagine the Little Theatre cancelling the play purely on the basis of optics, that it looks bad putting on a play by someone recently arrested for controversial views, regardless of what those views are about and purely on the fact that he was arrested. This is not someone whose values a small local theatre want to reflect. 

I invite the people Dave talks about who are afraid to speak out, to do so, but not to be surprised or offended when their arguments are dissected and rebutted. Of course abus is unacceptable, especially towards those who might not know much about the issue, or hasn't engaged with the trans person's perspective. Might I direct people skeptical about trans issues, to start following trans activists like Munroe Bergdorf or Shon Faye, or academics like feminist Judith Butler, to better see things from our perspective first. 

Maura, trans healthcare has existed for about the same time as X-rays. It's right that medical trials go ahead, as prejudice has meant there has not been many trials previously. But we do know that gender affirming care treats gender dysphoria incredibly effectively. Untreated gender dysphoria is deadly, leading to about 1 in 5 sufferers to commit suicide. Unfortunately, the governments decision to use the flawed Cass review to ban puberty blockers, and as a basis to cut down on adult gender affirming care, will lead to more deaths. Nonetheless, I hope we can all agree, that Linehan's comparison to 'Nazi eugenics' is hateful and misleading.

I love Hebden Bridge, and have found it to be an accepting, welcoming place, which is why I didn't want the views posted here to go unopposed. At the end of the day, if the play went ahead, I really wouldn't have cared. If they want to put on a play by a washed up writer rehashing a clearly superior film than that's within their rights, as it is for them to deicide not to. It was the right decision. Public institutions have a duty to uphold values of tolerance, equality, and community, values anyone who has a cursory understanding of Graham Linehan's views, knows that he does not share.

From Anon2

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

For decades Hebden Bridge was a welcoming town for gay men and women, trans people, those with alternative lifestyles. Hebden Bridge became the lesbian capital of the UK.  People's boundaries and views were respected and generally people muddled along. It was truly inclusive. 

This current version of the word 'inclusive' however means something completely different. It means the compulsory use of preferred pronouns, women being called 'cis' women, or the word woman replaced with 'people and much more. Those who objected were called transphobic or worse, reported for hate crime and visited by the police. Some lost their jobs. It created an atmosphere of fear and resentment. Anon 3 reports that one of the reasons that the play was cancelled was because the cast and crew feared threats and abuse. The person reporting this feels they have to be anonymous. So do I. Doesn't that cause the town's trans activists pause for thought?

From Greta G

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

The narrative that a main alternative to hormonal and surgical treatment to change gender ... must be suicide ... is a very black and white, flawed argument.  There are other ways to support trans people, and others, who experience being outsiders in their surrounding culture. I fear trans people theirselves may be doing harm by perpetuating that narrative. It becomes a threat: do what I want, however possibly unwise, or I'll be at risk of taking my own life, and it will be your fault.

The trans community could look to supporting its own members better, where these treatments are not going to be offered at this time. Dealing with reality, rather than polarised ideals, might help a lot of people who don't easily fit in.

The need for a kind of "third space" is definitely there, and laws in this country now identify and support that. It might help if more trans activists could work towards that aim, instead of the fearful idea of fully changing gender or better off dead.

I don't agree with the stated view of everyone in Hebden Bridge being aware you can't change sex/gender. Each situation is unique.  We have to try to get as right as possible, and to be as ethical and realistic as possible.  And support each person as is best for their circumstance, part of the circumstance in the UK being the majority of trans identifying people are not going to be able to access puberty blockers. How can we all help these people live well, allowing for this?

From T Smith

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

The Little Theatre have explained why they are not going ahead with a planned production. The statement is there on the HebWeb .

Anyone can say, especially anonymously, that they "believe" that the decision was made to protect the cast and crew from threats and abuse. In the absence of evidence this claim is without merit, and merely serves to stoke division and rage. And yet it is made here, referred to and repeated by other contributors, until it acquires the status of reported fact.

Can I refer everyone here to this sentence in the forum guidelines.

"Please develop the discussion by making good points and offering information or references" 

That might include, by the way, doing the bare minimum of research before suggesting that the Little Theatre is in breach of the Equality Act.

From Greta G

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

Casting aspersions at people who post anonymously because they rightly fear trans activist backlash is a low move.

FWIW this isn't my real name either. I have the same fears. I don't believe I have anti trans prejudice, though I know there are outspoken trans activists who would use my content to "prove" I have. We shouldn't have to live with these fears, but we do. Anything other than supporting outright that anyone can fully change gender, just by saying they want to, and then should be allowed the same access rights as people of their natal gender to safe spaces, even though these views are fully legal, can lead to dangerous responses. We know JK Rowling gets death threats.

From Anon3

Friday, 19 December 2025

Yes, it was cancelled because of threats from trans activist groups.

From H Groves

Saturday, 20 December 2025

Oh dear... in what a pickle Hebden Bridge Theatre finds itself. 

If, as is alleged, the production was cancelled because of threats from transactivist groups, then the management should report the matter to the police - and publicly name the group or individuals responsible. If true, this again is another example of bullying and intimidation from a group who complain of bullying and intimidation.

If we take the theatre's statement at face value - that in effect they don't want to upset a particular group - that's concerning. They claim the controversy around Graham Linehan has only just come to their attention, but it's been in the media for at least six months. For it to only now occur to them that staging the play might be contentious feels naïve and it would appear from their statement that this was a knee-jerk, rather than a considered decision made after a hastily convened meeting. 

The committee should have had the courage to address the concerns directly - after all, their values of inclusivity could just as easily justify producing the play as cancelling it. 

As it is I fear they have opened a Pandora's box that they will have difficulty closing. 

From Dave Boardman

Monday, 22 December 2025

Elly E, thank you for making my point better than I did. I said decent people look the other way when women are harassed and threatened. Now you look the other way when pretending to yourself and others that Graham Linehan has 'not been cancelled'.

It is not just 'being shouted at on Twitter' as you suggest – although you appear to oppose him shouting at people on Twitter. You fail to notice his shows cancelled in Edinburgh (at the 'fringe'!), his musical being cancelled before it was finished being written, the commission he got from a West End theatre company which was immediately dropped when he was called a 'bigot' on Twitter… ie, slightly more than being shouted at.

You also fail to mention Linehan's support for transsexuals who have been harassed by trans activists when they don't 'toe the party line' (he offers support for Aaron Kimberley, Corinna Cohn and Debbie Hayton in his book 'Tough Crowd'. 

You do mention his recent conviction for swiping a mobile phone out of the hand of someone who had been harassing him. But ignore the judge saying "the complainant was not as 'alarmed and distressed' as they portrayed themself to be by these messages" or that "the complainant was not giving entirely truthful evidence" during the trial, while Linehan was "generally a credible witness".

You ignore the harassment that led to Mr Linehan deciding to leave the UK rather than being "happy in whatever large house in the country his royalties affords him".

I do not ask you to agree with him, but please do as you suggest and be "be constructive" if not "amicable".

And as for it not looking good by putting on a play by someone arrested for controversial views… Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King were arrested for their controversial views. Many pensioners in this country have been arrested for their 'controversial' support for Palestine. Maybe you'd like to stick to theatre; from Moliere to David Hare, George Bernard Show and Joe Orton are among many who had 'controversial views'. 

I have, personally, attended women's rights events and confronted men who both agreed and disagreed with TERF views – only recently I confronted a man who claimed to support women's rights but who was unpleasant and aggressive to a young women who expressed anti TERF views. I told him he was doing those women no favours at all. I would like to see more of the unpleasant trans activists challenged by people who support the trans community – they do you no good.

From T Smith

Monday, 26 January 2026

Someone stumbling upon this thread might reasonably infer that Graham Linehan's controversial views concern trans people. But he has many other controversial – I would say objectionable – views. In recent weeks he has made some hateful posts on Twitter about both Renee Nicole Good, and Alex Pretti, and in apology for Trump's ICE. 

There is a nuanced debate to be had about the relation between an artist's values and the value of their art. But no-one should be in any doubt about the values of this artist.

(The HebWeb asked T Smith for links to back up his allegations. Which he did. Here's one and here's another - Ed)

The HebWeb prefers correspondents to give their names - but with issues where providing a name might cause professional or personal problems, the use of "Anon" is acceptable. See also: Forum guidelines - Ed