Balding complains about “dyke on bike” jibe to press commission

BBC presenter Clare Balding has written to the Press Complaints Commission to complain about a review of her new programme, Britain by Bike, by the Sunday Times TV and restaurant critic AA Gill and the paper's editor, John Witherow. 

Balding, who is gay, initially complained to Witherow about the tone of Gill's article in which he had written that she was a "big lesbian". After a mock apology he continued "Now back to the dyke on a bike …"

Witherow replied that she should just accept that occasionally she would be the butt of jokes. He compared her to Jeremy Clarkson who puts up with constantly being jeered at for his lack of dress sense, adolescent mindset and hairstyle. 

Balding replied: ""When the day comes that people stop resigning from high office, being disowned by their families, getting beaten up and in some instances committing suicide because of their sexuality, you may have a point.

"This is not about me putting up with having the piss taken out of me, something I have been quite able to withstand, it is about you legitimising name calling. 'Dyke' is not shouted out in school playgrounds (or as I've had it at an airport) as a compliment, believe me."

She added: "I am happy to be described as a lesbian, as and when relevant, but 'dyke' is too often used as a pejorative and insulting term".

You can read the story in the Guardian. 

Good on you, Clare.