American YouTuber, Arielle Scarcella claimed that she was “officially leaving the Left”. She was disinvited from Mardi Gras last weekend.
Scarcella has been accused of being a TERF (trans exclusionary radical feminist) and being transphobic. She has vehemently denied this.
Fiona vs Scarcella spat cause# transphobic war
Scarcella was invited to speak at Les – Talk at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. This sparked some anger and a Change.org petition called for her to be dropped from the panel and that sponsorships for her attendance should be cancelled.
Her crime? According to Rational Wiki, in 2017, Scarcella did a collaboration with YouTuber, Jaclyn Glenn. They did a rebuttal of trans YouTuber, Riley Dennis and her partner, Fiona.
Scarcella and Glenn were accused of misrepresenting Fiona’s arguments, allegedly claiming that Fiona supported conversion therapy. Fiona (and Riley Dennis) was arguing that lesbians who refuse to date transwomen were transphobic.
A social media war between Scarcella and Fiona erupted. Scarcella refused to back down from her remarks.
In the aftermath, Fiona allegedly received a hate campaign, which led to the collapse of her channel.
It was this spat that sparked the calls for her dis – invitation from the Mardi Gras.
(Just a note: I got this information from Rational Wiki. However, I think whoever wrote the entry is being quite unfair on Scarcella).
Scarcella on Outsiders
Scarcella went on Sky News Australia’s Outsiders after the Mardi Gras cancellation. She talked about the Mardi Gras snub and her video I’m A Lesbian Woman and I’m Leaving the Left.
One issue Scarcella has of the modern Left, especially LGBTQ+ advocates, is the way labels are — especially lesbian — are misused. She finds it lesbophobic.
She also takes issue to non – biological women, and who don’t look like women, invading women – only spaces. As you could imagine, this got much respect from hosts Rowan Dean, Rita Panahi and James Morrow.
Dating preferences: should cis – gender LGB+ people date trans people?
The Outsiders’ discussion with Scarcella on dating preferences and transphobia is what spurred me to write this post. Anyone has read any of my blogs know I do support trans rights and do validate non – binary people.
However, I have always found the push for cis LGB+ people to date transpeople problematic. While I don’t think it’s necessarily like conversion therapy, I think it’s bullying to pressure someone to date a person whom they aren’t attracted to.
People have the right to be true to who they are. They should be free to date/ love the people who they’re attracted to. Or not, of course, (i.e. in the case of many aromantic/ asexual people).
What I think about Arielle Scarcella’s channel
I’ve watched a few of Scarcella’s videos. Ages ago, I saw a video she did on asexuality without knowing who she was!
I really like what I’ve seen of her channel so far. Contrary to what her critics say, I think she is incredibly inclusive, including of trans people. And she doesn’t deny the validity of gender non – binary people. To me that is a huge plus.
So to Scarcella’s critics, get off her back! I actually think she is a massive asset to LGBTQ+ commentary.
Are you a fan of Ariel,e Scarcella? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
2 replies on “Arielle Scarcella “leaving the left” and a danger of some trans activism”
Um. It depends.
If we’re discussing actual cases, of course it is wrong to pressure someone to date someone they are not attracted to. If a trans woman is coming on to a lesbian and won’t take no for an answer, you obviously support the lesbian.
However it’s different with discussion. If someone sees that a lesbian is dating a trans woman and says that lesbian is no longer lesbian, that’s transphobic. If a lesbian makes a huge fuss of saying that she’s lesbian therefore she would never date a trans woman, that’s transphobic: she has no need to list all the people she won’t date. It’s just another way to clam the trans woman is a man.
Hi Clare. You make good points. Thanks for your comment.