Bill Maher says more people identifying as LGBTQ because it’s ‘trendy’

Words: Emily Maskell

During a recent episode (20 May) of Real Time with Bill Maher, the HBO host suggested that more people are identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community is due to the fact that “it’s trendy.”

In his ‘New Rule’ segment that concludes his show, the 66-year-old referenced a Gallup poll that shows an exponential increase in those who self-identify as LGBTQ+ and that people are allowed to ask, “What’s up with that?’

“Yes, part of the rise in LGBT numbers is from people feeling free enough to tell it to a pollster and that’s all to the good, but some of it is: it’s trendy,” Maher said.

Maher continued on this trajectory and equates children being on hormone blockers to “literally experimenting on children.”

“I understand that being trans is different, it’s innate,” Maher said. “But kids do have phases. Kids are fluid about everything. If they know at age 8 what they wanted to be, the world would be filled with cowboys and princesses,” Maher stated.

“It wasn’t that long ago when adults asked a kid ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’” he said. “They meant what profession.”

Maher’s comments have been regarded as anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+.

Journalist Karleigh Chardonnay Webb shared her frustrations about Maher’s segment on Twitter.

She outlines Maher’s notion that “Trans kids are doing this for the ‘likes'” is problematic, continuing: “Trans kid in Alabama: I’d LIKE to be treated as a human being, not a target. Trans parent in Texas: I’d LIKE for my kid to live without being bullied. Black trans woman: WE’D LIKE TO STAY ALIVE!”

Bill Maher: “Trans kids are doing this for the ‘likes'”
Trans kid in Alabama: I’d LIKE to be treated as a human being, not a target
Trans parent in Texas: I’d LIKE for my kid to live without being bullied
Black trans woman: WE’D LIKE TO STAY ALIVE!

— Karleigh Chardonnay Webb (@ChardonnayM) May 22, 2022

GLAAD’s Twitter account also addressed Maher’s comments stating: “This is not the first time Bill Maher has spouted inaccurate, anti-trans rhetoric. But this time he’s targeting youth. Pundits who fearmonger about trans youth and surgeries need to learn the facts. It’s not a trend. It’s not a phase. Youth are not rushed into medical transition.”

This is not the first time Bill Maher has spouted inaccurate, anti-trans rhetoric. But this time he’s targeting youth. Pundits who fearmonger about trans youth and surgeries need to learn the facts. It’s not a trend. It’s not a phase. Youth are not rushed into medical transition.

— GLAAD (@glaad) May 21, 2022