Allies Gala host Eddie Izzard talks she/her

Izzard was appearing on a Sky Arts program in December 2020 when she was asked which pronouns she used.

She replied she/her – which she has gone by publicly since. But in a new interview, Izzard said the moment wasn’t planned, and in fact she was only thinking about changing her pronouns at the time.

“I didn’t change my pronouns – I was thinking of changing them,” she told My Seven Wonders with Clive Anderson.

“I went on a program called Portrait Artist of the Year, Sky Arts, very nice, go on there.

“Some young artists painting me, they ask me, like a coffee thing, they said, ‘She/her or he/him?’ I was wearing a dress and I’m based as a trans woman now, so, ‘She/her, I’ll have a latte.’ It was that kind of lack of stress.”

Izzard’s pronoun update made headlines, and won her praise from transgender activists, fellow comedians and Stonewall.

“In two days in America and Britain where I’m best known, all my pronouns were changed. Which is fantastic, a great honor. I’ve been promoted to she, I see it as a great honor,” Izzard said.

“But I prefer she/her, don’t mind he/him, and I’m going to be relaxed about it. It’s not the time for fighting each other on this.”

She explained that the Sky show was “the first programme I’ve asked if I can be she and her, a little transition period.”

Speaking about her journey of coming out, she added: “When I came out I was trying to put words out that were better than ‘I am a transvestite’ because that latin word just sounded so negative…

“I knew this definition of trans, transgender that’s kind of where I was but I am genderfluid, I think I have the gift of boy genetics and girl genetics.”

Eddie Izzard also spoke about her continued ambitions to run as a Labour MP, something she has been vocal about since 2010, and how ex-comedian and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has inspired her. “He’s been very strong. Very consistent,” she said of his leadership.

Equality Utah Allies Dinner

The gala is set for Aug. 27, at the Eccles Theatre, 131 S. Main St. in downtown Salt Lake City. a first since 2019. The 2020 and 2021 galas had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tickets are available online, through EqualityUtah.org. Individual tickets are $295 — access to general reception and after-party is an additional $100. Third-tier seats are $195. And corporate sponsorships are available in packages costing $3,500, $6,500, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000 and $50,000.

Proceeds will go to support Equality Utah’s programs and lobbying efforts.

The theme this year is “Gorgeous Planet,” with a dress theme of “Cosmic Vogue,” defined as “gorgeous DIY to high couture.”

“It’s the Queerer MET gala of Utah,” said organizers. “Look to the stars for inspiration. Let your imagination inform your fashion, from DIY to High Couture. Glide across the universe and our red carpet in a look befitting a starchild. Be inspired by quasars, supermoons and ultraviolet cosmic fractals. Whatever illuminates your personal style.”

Awardees

An Impact Award will be presented to Bruce Bastian, who was a founding member of Equality Utah and hilanthropist to LGBTQ organizations.

A second Impact Award is being presented to transgender activist Sue Robbins, who lobbies the Utah State Legislature and works behind the scenes to help guide and/or thwart transgender-related legislation.

The Equality Utah Jeff Green LGBTQ and Allied Student Scholarships are being awarded to Badí Israel Quinteros, Drew Cannon, Isabella De Las Casas, Tyrel Barney, Sarah Ostler, Heather Barstow, Jordan Jones, and David Shill.

More information on the Allies Gala can be found at equalityutah.org