Actor David Tennant—best known for his work on Doctor Who—had LGBTQ+ fans cheering after he criticized transphobes when asked by a transgender fan about his personal views on sexuality and gender.
Speaking at the Proud Nerd: Angels, Demons and Doctors convention in Germany on May 5, Tennant addressed the fan’s question, and affirmed his steadfast commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
The fan, interested in Tennant's stance on trans allyship, asked:
"I wanted to ask about your relationship with gender expression, like masculinity and femininity. ... How has that changed over the years?"
Tennant replied:
“When I was a kid, the idea of being non-binary wasn’t something that existed. It wasn’t a concept. I’ve seen that emerge and people are able to express themselves through that. It only ever seems positive as far as I can see."
“When I was a teenager, I remember gay rights being weaponised politically. That always felt ugly and nasty. We look back on that, 30 years later, and those people are clearly on the wrong side of history."
“Now, there is a similar weaponisation of these topics being taken by mostly the right wing, or certain sections of society, to create friction and conflict and division where it needn’t be. It’s just about people being themselves. You don’t need to be bothered about it."
"F**k off and let people be."
Tennant also said his stance is rooted in his desire for individuals to be able to freely express themselves and know who they are, noting that "ways of expressing gender identity [and] sexuality are more nuanced than they once were."
He concluded:
“If that helps people to know who they are, say who they are, and communicate to the world who they are, it’s just common sense.”
You can hear what Tennant said in the video below.
@mandlebougie the 'woah!' and 'brilliant' at me naming myself alonzo and having his career as a special interest😭🥹 #davidtennant #proudnerd
The clip soon went viral and many praised Tennant for his allyship.
Tennant has long advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and last year made headlines for a particular fashion item he wore at different events.
The actor consistently showed his support for the LGBTQ+ community by wearing a nonbinary Pride pin featuring the flag's colors, black, purple, white, and yellow, during his television appearances.
Additionally, he has also been seen sporting a badge with the colors of the LGBTQ+ and trans flags—rainbow above blue, white, and pink—along with the message: "You are safe with me."
