The Hocus Pocus actor, 76, recently took to Twitter, writing: “Women of the world! They are taking away our rights to our bodies, our lives, even our names!” She continued: “They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore. they call us “people who give birth” or “menstruating people”, even “people with vaginas”! Don’t let them turn you off! Every person on earth owes you.” However, many fans have responded in the comments, criticizing Midler for her “disappointing” message. “Really disappointed by this as a trans man and a Bette Midler fan,” one user wrote, further adding that “including trans men in the reproductive health conversation doesn’t hurt women.” Actor and presenter Siobhán McSweeney stepped in to respond to Midler, writing: “This is not true. xxx”. Comic and writer Shaparak Khorsandi also contributed to the conversation, saying: ‘I’m excited for drinks with some birthing people I went to school with… we’re having a proper period night out! Let me know when that happens. Right now it’s just a polite nod to the inclusion of a tiny minority.” Another fan explained: “A lot of people use this language to be more inclusive of trans men.” “What words would you use to include trans men who still have uteruses and can get pregnant?” one was asked. Sign up (Bette Midler/Twitter) “It’s because not only women menstruate, give birth or have vaginas. Trans men do all these things, just like non-binary people,” one wrote. “I love you so much, Bette, but you need to do better here.” Activist Panti Bliss warned Midler not to “fall into the fake anti-panic nonsense.” “No one erases women. In some small health care settings, where appropriate, they use trans inclusive language. That’s all,” Panti Bliss added. “Then you started your career in bathhouses and were like the first Prides… you should know better than this tweet demonizing trans people for no reason,” another fan commented. This reaction comes shortly after 1993’s Hocus Pocus, which starred Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as witches from 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts, announced its upcoming sequel.
