John Cleese and the importance of material reality

July 19, 2022

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In 1979, Monty Python produced Life of Brian, which included this famous clip. In it, the character Stan explains that he wants to be a woman called Loretta because he wants to have babies. John Cleese, visibly (and hilariously) annoyed, says “But you can’t have babies!” to which Stan responds, “Don’t you oppress me.” The following exchange occurs:

Reg (John Cleese): I’m not oppressing you, Stan, you haven’t got a womb! Where’s the fetus going to gestate? Are you going to keep it in a box?

[Stan mopes while everyone else looks confused.]

Judith (Sue Jones-Davies): Here, I’ve got an idea. Suppose you agree that he can’t actually have babies, not having a womb, which is nobody’s fault, not even the Romans, but that he can have the right to have babies. 

Francis (Michael Palin): Good idea, Judith. We shall fight your oppressors for your right to have babies, brother (sister, sorry)! 

Reg: What’s the point?? 

Francis: What?

Reg: What’s the point of fighting for his right to have babies when he can’t have babies??

Francis: It’s symbolic of our struggle against oppression.

Reg: It’s symbolic of his struggle against reality.

TERFs and TERF allies have been watching this clip with amusement for years, knowing that men who claim to be women can’t have babies, and mocking their claim to being oppressed.

But now, Mr. Cleese seems to have lost the plot.