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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Father Ted writer Graham Linehan given harassment warning | Father Ted writer Graham Linehan given harassment warning |
| (30 days later) | |
| The co-creator of Father Ted has been given a verbal warning by police for alleged harassment following a row on Twitter with a transgender woman. | The co-creator of Father Ted has been given a verbal warning by police for alleged harassment following a row on Twitter with a transgender woman. |
| Graham Linehan was told by West Yorkshire Police not to contact Stephanie Hayden. | Graham Linehan was told by West Yorkshire Police not to contact Stephanie Hayden. |
| She reported him for referring to her as a "he", and for tweeting the names she used before transitioning. Miss Hayden, 45, is now suing the writer. | She reported him for referring to her as a "he", and for tweeting the names she used before transitioning. Miss Hayden, 45, is now suing the writer. |
| Mr Linehan, 50, told the BBC he is also considering taking action against her. | Mr Linehan, 50, told the BBC he is also considering taking action against her. |
| The row comes amid a continuing debate about gender recognition in the UK. | The row comes amid a continuing debate about gender recognition in the UK. |
| Currently, if someone wishes to have their gender identity legally recognised, they have to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate - which requires a medical diagnosis. | Currently, if someone wishes to have their gender identity legally recognised, they have to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate - which requires a medical diagnosis. |
| Some argue the medical element should be removed and say there should be a system of gender recognition based on self-identification. | Some argue the medical element should be removed and say there should be a system of gender recognition based on self-identification. |
| But not all agree, with some "gender critical" people believing the system could be abused by predatory men. | But not all agree, with some "gender critical" people believing the system could be abused by predatory men. |
| Mr Linehan - also known for writing Black Books and The IT Crowd - had given his backing to a support group of trans women who are opposed to self-identification and said he would back their campaign on social media. | Mr Linehan - also known for writing Black Books and The IT Crowd - had given his backing to a support group of trans women who are opposed to self-identification and said he would back their campaign on social media. |
| Miss Hayden was also a member of the group, saying she is also gender critical, but said she had never met Mr Linehan. | Miss Hayden was also a member of the group, saying she is also gender critical, but said she had never met Mr Linehan. |
| An internal row saw the group disband, but led to a number of acrimonious tweets between Mr Linehan and Miss Hayden. | An internal row saw the group disband, but led to a number of acrimonious tweets between Mr Linehan and Miss Hayden. |
| This included the Irish writer retweeting a post giving her previous names with pictures, and Miss Hayden tweeting Companies House information which revealed Mr Linehan's home address. | |
| 'Not about free speech' | 'Not about free speech' |
| Miss Hayden, who is pursuing civil proceedings accusing him of harassment, defamation and misuse of private information, told the BBC: "I spoke to the police for 45 minutes about how I wanted to go forward. | Miss Hayden, who is pursuing civil proceedings accusing him of harassment, defamation and misuse of private information, told the BBC: "I spoke to the police for 45 minutes about how I wanted to go forward. |
| "I didn't think he was a physical threat, but thought if the police spoke to him and advised him with a warning, he would possibly realise the hurt he had caused. | "I didn't think he was a physical threat, but thought if the police spoke to him and advised him with a warning, he would possibly realise the hurt he had caused. |
| "The point I want to get across is this isn't about free speech, this is about harassment. | "The point I want to get across is this isn't about free speech, this is about harassment. |
| "He is perfectly entitled to say his subjective opinions, but he is not allowed to publish details about me." | "He is perfectly entitled to say his subjective opinions, but he is not allowed to publish details about me." |
| 'I think of them as women' | 'I think of them as women' |
| Mr Linehan, who said he was speaking to his lawyer on Monday about possibly taking action against Miss Hayden, told the BBC: "The police phoned me and told me to stay away. | Mr Linehan, who said he was speaking to his lawyer on Monday about possibly taking action against Miss Hayden, told the BBC: "The police phoned me and told me to stay away. |
| "I would love to keep Stephanie away from me and my family and I have no intention of speaking to Stephanie. | "I would love to keep Stephanie away from me and my family and I have no intention of speaking to Stephanie. |
| But he defended his stance of referring to Miss Hayden as "he", adding: "I will call all of my trans friends 'she'. | But he defended his stance of referring to Miss Hayden as "he", adding: "I will call all of my trans friends 'she'. |
| "I think of them as women, they are respectful and are not misogynists. | "I think of them as women, they are respectful and are not misogynists. |
| "But I refuse to respect the pronouns of misogynists." | "But I refuse to respect the pronouns of misogynists." |