Oxfam International has removed an LGBTQIA+ Pride video post from Twitter after criticism.
Some social media users online criticised the charity’s video, posted last week, which featured an image of a person wearing a badge saying “terf”, a term which stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist.
Today, the charity has removed the social media post and video due to concerns raised but said it will re-post shortly.
We have removed the post because of concerns raised with us. We will re-post shortly #ProtectThePride
— Oxfam International (@Oxfam) June 6, 2023
In a tweet shared on Thursday and deleted today, the charity shared a cartoon video, in which a voiceover asks: “How are you marking Pride Month this year, while LGBTQIA+ people around the world are deprived of basic safety?
“Not protected by laws, preyed on by hate groups online and offline, discriminated against at work, deprived of opportunities and pushed to the margins.”
One character, a white woman with short brown hair, is seen wearing a badge on her which says “terf’, and some Twitter users suggested it looked like Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
In the video, three people with angry expressions look over six figures in the colours of the rainbow.
The cartoon displayed as the voiceover spoke of “hate groups” which has caused Oxfam to be subject to criticism.
Oxfam: 'We made a mistake'
An Oxfam International spokesperson said: “Oxfam believes that all people should be able to make decisions which affect their lives, enjoy their rights and live a life free of discrimination and violence, including people from LGBTQIA+ communities. In efforts to make an important point about the real harm caused by transphobia, we made a mistake. We have therefore edited the video to remove the term TERF and we are sorry for the offence it caused. There was no intention by Oxfam or the film-makers for this slide to have portrayed any particular person or people.
“We fully support both an individual’s rights to hold their philosophical beliefs and a person’s right to have their identity respected, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.”
Editor's Note: This article was updated to include a statement from Oxfam.
Related Articles
