SA comedian Biddy O’Loughlin fears Crown and Anchor gig cancelled over trans and gender identify views

Biddy O'Loughlin, the daughter of popular comedian Fiona O'Loughlin, has had her comedy gig cancelled over what she fears are her views about trans and gender identity issues.

The daughter of well-known comedian Fiona O'Loughlin, Biddy O'Loughlin, who's also a comedian, claims the Crown and Anchor has cancelled her appearance at their Oct 15 comedy night because of her views on trans people. Picture: Instagram / biddyoloughlin

An Adelaide comedian fears she has been cancelled from an upcoming gig at the Crown & Anchor Hotel because of her strong views about trans and gender identity.

Biddy O’Loughlin, the daughter of well-known comedian Fiona O’Loughlin, was booked to perform a set at a Cranker Comedy show on October 15.

She said she had been removed from the line-up and promotional material and that she was told it was because a staff member at the venue had complained about her material.

O’Loughlin has made no secret of her beliefs on gender identity, frequently posting on the issue on her Instagram account to her 2700 followers.

She also appears on social media posts in a red hat with the words Make Women Female Again – a play on Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again slogan.

Sharing a photo earlier this month of her performing at a previous Cranker Comedy gig, she posted: “They call me the JK Rowling of the Adelaide comedy scene, which is weird because I’ve never written a book”.

Biddy O'Loughlin in the Make Women Female Again hat. Picture: Instagram/biddyoloughlin

Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, has courted controversy with her views on transgender issues.

O’Loughlin said she initially believed the cancellation followed an incident involving a transgender woman at her gym, after which she posted on social media about “glaring” at the person in the women’s only area.

But she said she was later told by the Cranker Comedy organiser it was because of a complaint made by a Crown & Anchor staff member.

The pub referred queries to the Cranker Comedy organiser, who declined to comment.

O’Loughlin said she was disappointed in the decision over the gig at the Crown & Anchor, a venue she recently rallied to save when it was facing closure due to a student housing proposal.

“I marched to save it. I signed the petition,” she said.

“I know some of the bartenders see me as a Terf (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist) but I don’t consider myself a feminist. I love the Cranker.”

The Cranker is a popular live music and comedy venue. Picture: Dean Martin

O’Loughlin is unbending in her views but maintained her comedy sets are not all about gender ideology and transgenderism, but also include ‘dad jokes’ and material about her reverting to Catholicism.

She said her views had affected her career trajectory and cost her friends on the comedy circuit and in her personal life.

But she said she would not be silenced and there should be enough room in the arts and society for differing views.

O’Loughlin said she used the same material on a US tour earlier this year and was considered “pretty mild”.

“In Australia, we are a bit behind,” she said.

“There are a lot of comedians who don’t agree … and they would be concerned about it.

“I used to go along with it but the ramifications of bowing out are not worth it.

“The principles are wrong. Women are women.”

Originally published as SA comedian Biddy O’Loughlin fears Crown and Anchor gig cancelled over trans and gender identify views