Milli Hill vs. transgender people

Milli Hill is a British author and anti-transgender activist. Hill was upset after reading the term “birthing person,” a value-neutral and inclusive term to describe all people who can give birth. After getting pushback about her views, Hill leaned even harder into anti-transgender activism.

Background

Milli Hill was born in January 1975 and attended Leweston school before earning a degree from Durham University in 1996. After working as an actor and dramatherapist, Hill began a writing career focusing on birth, breastfeeding, and motherhood.

Hill gave birth to three children. Hill has written three book about pregnancy and childcare and founded the Positive Birth Movement in-person support group network that was active until 2021. Hill incorporated Milli Hill, Ltd. in 2020.

On November 25, 2020, Hill was tagged in a social media post about obstetric violence that used the term “birthing people.” Hill replied:

“Thanks. Good to see this post. I would challenge the term ‘birthing person’ in this context though, especially on international day to end violence against women. It is women who are seen as the ‘fragile sex’ etc, and obstetric violence is violence against women. Let’s not forget who the oppressed are here, and why.”

The original poster replied, “Obstetric violence is violence against anyone on the receiving end of obstetric violence – women, trans men, non-binary people, anyone.”

Hill replied:

“Personally I think it’s part of violence against women but if you disagree then at least don’t leave them out and say ‘women and birthing people’.

Hill has gone on to become a leading anti-trans voice, frequently criticizing the civil rights movement in general and specific activists in particular in the press and on social media.

References

Smith, Julia Llewellyn (July 21, 2021) Milli Hill: the campaigner cancelled for questioning the term ‘birthing people.’ The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/milli-hill-the-campaigner-cancelled-for-questioning-the-term-birthing-people-dkqplw0b7

Hill, Milli (May 17, 2022). When even midwives are being taught that men can give birth, I despair for motherhood, says childbirth expert MILLI HILL. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10826897/Trans-debate-midwives-taught-men-birth-despair-MILLI-HILL-says.html