Gay newswires THEM and LGBTQ Nation both report that the BBC has been slammed by some LGBTQIA activists after a blatant attempt to remove a pro-trans message from prime time television. The Saturday night programme Strictly Come Dancing is a family evening favourite, the successor to network busting programmes like the Generation Game and Noel's House Party and echoes back to a time when everyone would watch pretty much the same programme. In other words, it is hugely popular.  House of the Dragon actress Bethany Antonia’s dance rehearsal for the competition was transmitted. Bethany is a lesbian and supports trans rights, and indeed, she was wearing a T-shirt with the legend Protect the Dolls on it - a common expression of love and support for trans women and girls.

It has now emerged that Bethany's T shirt slogan was pixellated out of the transmission to make it air. The BBC defended its decision, saying  that they don’t allow any slogans, period, citing their “editorial guidelines”. Nevertheless, many many people say that the BBC has capitulated to TERFs (a type of extremist feminist who hates transgender people, SM practitioners and the kink communities) when they should be upholding centrist, liberal British values. The debate goes on at many LGBTQIA bulletin boards.