The UK’s biggest daily newspaper has come under fire after it published an article on transgender labour MP hopeful Emily Brothers, who is blind.
The article published by The Sun (10th Dec), asks how Emily Brothers could possibly know she was in the wrong sex if she was blind, saying:
“Thing is though… being blind, how did know she was the wrong sex?”
Mark Healey from the 17-24-30 campaign, which aims to highlight hate crimes in the UK, has called on readers to make a formal complaint to the regulatory body IPSO, after calling the piece an “unacceptable piece of journalism.”
Recently the leader of the labour party Ed Milliband said he was ‘so proud’ that his party had selected a transgender parliamentary candidate to stand in May’s general election.
Brothers will contest the seat of Sutton and Cheam and is quoted as saying she wanted to be a ‘positive role model’.
In a recent interview with PinkNews, she said,
“In an ideal world I wouldn’t be speaking out about my past because it’s very private; however I recognise that as a politician the key thing is trust.
“I don’t want to be somebody who has notoriety as having a transgender background, but I also believe it’s an experience that has value to it, that I can be a positive role model.”
Columnist Rod Liddle has said that he sorry for “the poor joke”.
In a statement released today, Mr Liddle said: “I wish Emily the very best and I’d definitely vote for her if I lived in Sutton and Cheam.
“I am sorry for the poor joke!”
