BBC sparks controversy after casting transgender man on gay dating show, I Kissed A Boy
The BBC has sparked controversy after including a transgender man in its gay dating show, I Kissed A Boy.
The reality programme, hosted by pop star Dannii Minogue, features single men looking for love with a twist – contestants must kiss before getting to know one another.
Criticism erupted though after it was revealed that one participant, Lars, was born female and lived as a girl for 16 years.
Campaign group LGB Alliance has branded the move “homophobic in the extreme” and written directly to BBC boss Tim Davie.
The group is demanding the show be pulled from air, describing the BBC’s decision as “horribly regressive”.
Lars, a 23-year-old hotel receptionist from Wolverhampton, is the first transgender contestant to take part in the show, which debuted in 2023.
He identifies as a “gay man trapped in a woman’s body”, according to reports. The dating programme has since expanded to include a spin-off for lesbians called I Kissed A Girl.
This controversy adds to a growing list of BBC rows surrounding its stance on sex and gender identity.
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Last year, the broadcaster faced criticism for including a transgender Colombian scientist on its annual list of 100 inspiring women despite being born male.
In their letter to the BBC, LGB Alliance claims the inclusion pressures gay men into pretending they’re attracted to a woman.
“Any rejection of her – a rejection that would be entirely in line with their natural homosexuality – will be seized upon by activists as evidence of their bigotry and transphobia,” the letter reads.
“It is unconscionable to coerce young gay men in this way,” it continues.
The group argues that contestants could face accusations of transphobia if they reject Lars based on their sexual orientation.
This situation has drawn comparisons to the now-notorious Sky1 show There’s Something About Miriam from 2002, which faced backlash for not disclosing a contestant’s transgender status.
Kate Barker, chief executive of LGB Alliance, accused the BBC of pushing an anti-gay agenda under the guise of “inclusion”.
“By including a heterosexual woman in a gay dating show, the BBC is telling its audience loud and clear: it’s not OK to be gay,” she told The Telegraph.
She warned the show would be watched by many young people just becoming aware of their same-sex attraction.
“Many will take away the message that it’s ‘transphobic’ to have sexual boundaries, or that it’s bigoted not to be attracted to women,” Barker said.
She described the programme as “incredibly regressive and homophobic” and “yet another sign of how ‘Be Kind’ inflicts callous cruelty.”
The BBC has defended its decision to include Lars in the dating show.
A spokesperson told the publication: “I Kissed a Boy is and always has been an inclusive dating show about finding love.”
They explained that all applicants are asked about their dating preferences during the application process.
“All applicants are asked their dating preference, and they are matched accordingly,” the BBC statement continued.
The spokesperson added: “Producers took participants’ preferences into account, and made sure that all contributors were aware and comfortable with the application, casting and matching process.”