Viewers praise the Armed Forces' first transgender officer as 'inspirational' as she hits out at Jenni Murray for saying men can't become 'real women'
- Caroline Paige, 58, is the first openly transgender officer to serve in the Armed Forces
- She appeared on Good Morning Britain to speak about the challenges she faced
- Caroline also responded to comments made by Woman's Hour host Jenni Murray
- Murray had argued transgender women don't have shared experience of growing up female
The first transgender officer to serve openly in the UK Armed Forces has criticised broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray for arguing that trans women should not call themselves 'real women'.
Caroline Paige, 58, who has served in the RAF for nearly four decades, said on Good Morning Britain that the radio host had hastily 'judged' transgender women, after the Women's Hour host claimed that they don't have the shared experience of growing up female.
'It’s a little bit of a shame people should have to live by labels,' said Caroline, who was praised by viewers on Twitter as 'brave' and 'inspirational'.
'She’s kind of judged transgender people on just a few meetings,' said Caroline, who added that she felt Murray's opinon piece in the Sunday Times Magazine wasn't 'balanced'.
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Caroline Paige (left) has served in the RAF since 1980 and began to transition in 1999. (Right) Woman's Hour presenter Jenni Murray sparked a row with her comments about transgender women
Viewers praised Caroline for being so open about her experiences transitioning and called her 'inspiration' and 'brave'
'... She’s expressed an opinion,' Caroline told presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid.
'People look to her, she’s a public figure and they believe her.
'I would have liked to have seen a balanced article. It wasn’t a balanced article.'
Viewers took to Twitter in full support of Caroline as she opened up about the challenges she's encountered in the Armed Forces, and the reaction from her family and friends to her transition.
One viewer said: 'Wow, Caroline Paige is so brave and inspirational.'
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While another added of Caroline's boss, Good Morning Britain's own security expert Mikey Kay, for joining her on the couch: 'What a wonderful story about Caroline Paige, thank you for highlighting the fact that the military is so accepting and supportive!'
'So fascinating listening to Caroline Paige, so brave and a lovely lady,' said a third.
Jenni Murray had sparked a row in an article over the weekend, in which she said of interviewing the transgender presenter India Willoughby that transgender women - who have previously lived as men 'with all the privilege that entails' - do not have the shared experience of growing up female.
Caroline was joined by her boss and Good Morning Britain security expert Mikey Kay as she spoke about the challenges she faced transitioning
'India held firmly to her belief that she was a "real woman", ignoring the fact she had spent all of her life before transition enjoying the privileged position in our society generally accorded to a man,' Dame Jenni Murray said in her piece.
The BBC has said of the article: 'Jenni Murray is a freelance journalist and these were her own views.
'However, we have reminded her that presenters should remain impartial on controversial topics covered by their BBC programmes.'
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV
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