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The BBC’s woke guide to gender

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Earlier this week, Mr S brought you the BBC’s internal guide to talking about climate change and how to win audiences over to the ‘correct’ side of the issue. Now he can report that the Corporation’s commissars of language appear to have also redefined what it means to be gay.

That redefinition comes in the BBC Style Guide, the in-house guide to words last updated in November. In light of the Corporation’s increasingly desperate attempts to win over younger audiences, Auntie’s description of ‘homosexual’ might raise some eyebrows given its definition as: ‘Homosexual means people of either sex who are attracted to people of their own “gender.”‘

Eagle-eyed readers will note the controversial use of the word ‘gender’ rather than ‘sex’ there. Students of the gender wars will know this is not a small difference. Sex, after all, refers to a person’s biology, their anatomy.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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