Russell T Davies says he gets daily hate messages for supporting trans rights

Screenwriter Russell T Davies has said he gets called a "groomer" and a "paedophile" every day by online trolls over his support of transgender rights.

The Doctor Who writer said comments were fuelled by his latest mini series TipToe, which focuses on a feud between neighbours on opposite ends of the political debate.

Davies described it as a reflection of "real world issues" he felt necessary to speak up on and admitted he now has agents who monitor his hate "every day".

"I think the rise of the online voice, the voice of anger, which is becoming more homophobic and misogynist and anti-Semitic and every problem you could name, is stepping out of the online world into the real world," he said.

"I genuinely think there are dangers out there... that's the story of TipToe, every prejudice and problem arriving at your front door.

"I'm very safe, I'm well off, nicely paid, I'm a white man, I have support around me... but it makes me sick to think what is it like to be a young, trans kid, living in a flat and working in a bar, not a penny to you.

"If you feel afraid, that's terrifying. And I've had people say that to me, I've had trans people say that to my face."

Trans rights and gender identity remains a heated political debate that has incited violent behaviour towards people on both sides of the argument.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has had extensive criticism for a series of comments voicing concerns about how trans issues affect women's rights, and her opposition to Scotland's gender recognition bill.

In 2024, an internet troll was handed two suspended sentences after posting "chilling" online messages threatening to kill Rowling and former MP Rosie Duffield, who is known for her critical stance on transgender self‑identification.

Davies said he's fearful for the growing harmfulness of social media.

"I have hope because I think people are marvellous but I see absolutely no signs of the technology being reined in or controlled," he said.

"And if that is going to happen, there has to be a revolution... but I don't see any signs of a revolution because we are all busy scrolling."

The 63-year-old was speaking to Jo Whiley on a BBC Radio 2 podcast about his new memoir, The Queerest of Folk, which follows his life and career in television, including bringing queer stories to the mainstream.

The Swansea-born writer started out in Youth theatre before his TV career began with the BBC Children's department.

His breakthrough came from drama Queer as Folk, first aired in 1999, and regarded as a turning point for on-screen LGBTQ+ representation.

It depicted three characters living in Manchester's gay village and was explicit in a way that had not been seen on UK TV before.

Davies said he still gets "extraordinary" responses more than 26 years later: "I get people who walk up to me in Manchester to say I've only moved up here because of Queer as Folk... it's very moving, it's very powerful."

Despite being faced with criticism for his work, Davies said he always wants to remain true to himself and what he believes in as it is "all that matters".

Tonia Antonazzi, a Labour MP who has been vocal about her views on protecting female-only spaces, said she had witnessed the backlash Davies had experienced and felt for him.

"I hugely respect Russell. He's been a fantastic advocate for gender rights," she said, adding that she believed Davies himself would not want to diminish anyone's rights.

"We must not lose sex-based rights. Many women feel silenced, that they cannot say they need to have women-only spaces."

She said self identification is important for single-sex spaces, sport, and changing rooms and also noted the importance of gender for data collection across public bodies.

But Antoniazzi believes the conversation around gender identity needed to be an open one, without the threat of hatred or harm to either side and "shouldn't be an us-versus-them".

She admitted that putting her head above the parapet made her susceptible to hate online, including death threats.

"I ignore it rather than be a victim to it... as a female MP, I don't want to be silenced."

In 2024, a tweet posted by the Gower MP went viral and resulted in her being a target for hate, "from people within my own party", she said.

She has now turned off comments on her Facebook page "because of foul comments" and said it was done to protect the well-being of her family, friends and staff.

"The threat is real," said Antoniazzi, alluding to the death of former Tory MP Anne Widdecombe, adding that she is "super careful" about what she does.

"I do have to plan ahead... I'm content in my small town, but other areas in my constituency I do sometimes think 'I'm not going there by myself' and I have to think about the security and staff I have with me."

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, support resources are available via BBC Action Line.