Open Letter to the British Film Institute

Munroe is a man. Trans representation should not come at the expense of women.

Unbelievably daft.

isn't this obvious? obviously not!

I am disgusted at the idea that misogynistic homophobe should be a keynote speaker at an event for women in film. But I understand, you couldn’t find a woman, there are only 3.75 billion of us.

I support the right of gender non-conforming people (that is, almost the entire world as no one is a gender stereotype) to live as they please and to speak to whomever they please. No man has the right to demand that I refer to him as a woman - NO MAN! I will never do this and am furious that whomever is organizing this conference doesn't realize that women have been oppressed by males for thousands of years and that the need for this conference is so that women may speak to each other, not listen to yet another male colonizer.

The film industry has marginalised women since film began. Inviting Morgan Bergdof to speak for women in film is another way of marginalizing us.

It is shameful that the BFI would choose a man- and a misogynist at that-as the keynote speaker for a Woman centred event. And he is not a professional filmmaker.

This is an ill-considered decision that will have negative cultural and professional ramifications both on women who watch films, and on female film producers/ creators. If female individuals cannot access the support and organisations necessary in order to make film, then it is much less likely that women who watch film will be able to see a broad diversity of female role models that accurately depict women. As well, nobody is better placed to communicate the truth of born women's experience, than born women. Since Munroe Bergdorff is not a born woman, they are clearly not equipped to be representing women, and certainly should not be centered as Keynote Speaker at an event meant to celebrate women's achievements in film, and also meant to encourage women to access the film industry.

A biological woman has earned the right to speak for and represent women and feminism. In an industry where women have been oppressed since it began, the decision to choose a man is frankly, crazy!

This is a very worrying selection...I am genuinely shocked at the disrespect to women in the industry.

Why no Woman keynote speaker? Monroe Bergdorf is a misogynist and a Man . Shame on you .

Munroe Bergdorf is a Man

I am so disappointed in BFI. I can not imagine why they chose to disrespect women in such a manner. To hold forth that they intend to celebrate women and recognize our oppression in a male supremacy by elevating a male over women, feels like much more than a grab for media attention. It feels like hate.

Get real BFI. You’ve lost the plot. A real woman is essential. Why would you think otherwise?

Absolutely disgraceful.

Monroe Bergdorf has shown nothing but contempt for women. Asking a man to speak is an insult to women especially those in the film industry. Shame on you.

As a public body please state how the decision to allow a trans women ie man with no film experience was made?

MB openly labels women as Terfs which is a violent hate speech. He has produced homophobic insults to lesbian women and he has never made a film. His being asked to be a key note is the epitome of patriarchy .

This event is about WOMEN in film. Bergdorf is MALE and cannot speak for women. This is an insult to all those brilliant women you have chosen to ignore. Even l'Oreal dropped him.

This person is neither a woman nor a film maker.