‘Extremely inappropriate’: Queensland radio host blasted for transgender comment about a child

A Queensland radio host has been slammed for “inappropriate” comments on air about a transgender student at his daughter’s school.

A Queensland radio host who made “extremely inappropriate” comments on-air about a 13-year-old transgender school student has publicly responded to the intense backlash.

Paul “Campo” Campion from River 94.9FM’s Marnie & Campo show had told listeners he disagreed with transgender students being able to use any bathroom they wanted. He went on to express fears about his daughter’s safety at school because of a transgender student who was able to share bathrooms with her. He also referred to the student’s genitalia, The Courier Mail reports.

His remarks prompted a string of complaints and calls on social media for him to be sacked.

The Ipswich radio host addressed the issue on Friday, saying he had not intended to cause offence.

“My comments were not meant to hurt anyone, they are simply a father trying to manoeuvre a changing world with his 14-year-old daughter, who is also having to understand things she knows nothing about,” Campo said on-air.

“If you see my protection and feelings about my daughter as transphobic, there is not much I can do about that.”

His initial comments arose during a discussion about people identifying as animals in Victoria.

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Campo, who has been on the show since 2015, said he didn’t agree with the Queensland Department of Education’s policies around transgender bathroom use, and that he subsequently feared for his daughter’s safety.

The station received complaints and Michelle Inns, founder of popular Facebook group Parents of Transgender Kids, encouraged members to write a formal complaint.

“There is a significant level of disgust in our community for the comments made on the show about transgender children, their access to school bathrooms (a right that is enforced by Education Queensland),” Ms Inns said.

“The discussion of a minor‘s genitalia on public radio is also extremely inappropriate.

“It is bitterly disappointing after all of the recent community backlash against transgender discrimination in our schools and political system that the radio station has allowed this kind of behaviour.

“People seem to assume that shared bathroom use is putting their children at risk.

“Our kids are already struggling with their bodies and are incredibly self conscious, it’s more likely they will be seeking privacy and trying to avoid conflict.”

Station general manager David Wiltshire said the broadcast did not breach the commercial radio code of practice but that staff had since received education and training around transgender issues.

“We agree that the discussion around transgender girls sharing changing facilities with cisgender girls should never have taken place on our broadcast,” he said.

“We agree it was clear that the announcer strongly disagreed with the Queensland Department of Education policies on transgender children.

“We are extremely disappointed that our guidelines around these topics were not followed.”