Matua Kahurangi
Just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes.
Graham Linehan, the acclaimed co-creator of beloved sitcoms like Father Ted, The IT Crowd, and Black Books, now finds himself at the center of a storm. Not for his comedy, but for daring to speak out on behalf of women and children in an increasingly hostile climate for dissent. On Monday, Linehan appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to plead not guilty to charges of harassing a transgender activist and damaging her phone. But this case is about far more than the legalities. It is emblematic of the silencing faced by those who challenge the new orthodoxy around gender ideology.
For years, Linehan has been a tireless and outspoken advocate for the rights of women and children, raising concerns about the erosion of sex-based protections and the medicalization of gender-nonconforming youth. His views were once shared quietly by many and are now branded as controversial or even hateful. Not because they are extreme, but because they question the prevailing narrative.
The allegations against him stem from an October 2024 conference called Battle of Ideas. This event is designed to encourage free speech and rigorous debate. That such a forum has now become a flashpoint for legal action only underlines the dangerous trajectory of public discourse. When speech is policed so tightly that disagreement becomes criminalized, democracy itself is at risk.
Linehan stood firm outside the courtroom. Wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the headline “Trans women are not women”, he made no apologies for his beliefs. “For six years, ever since I began defending the rights of women and children against a dangerous ideology, I have faced harassment, abuse and threats,” he said. “I’ve lost a great deal, but I am still here, and I will not waver in my resolve.”
His stance has cost him professionally, socially, and emotionally. He has been de-platformed, vilified, and painted as a villain. But to many, Linehan is not a menace. He is a principled dissenter, one of the few public figures willing to take the blows in order to say what others are too afraid to voice.
This is not about denying anyone’s identity or humanity. It is about ensuring that women and children are not collateral damage in a rush to accommodate a movement that often refuses to engage in nuance or acknowledge biological reality. Linehan’s critics demand silence, but he insists on speech. They demand submission, but he chooses resistance.
In standing his ground, Graham Linehan represents something vital. He shows the courage to speak up for the vulnerable in a time of confusion and fear. Regardless of the outcome of his trial, his determination to protect the rights of women and children remains both admirable and necessary.
This article was originally published on the author’s Substack.
