Are LGBTQI+ activists really calling for Aretha Franklin's 'Natural Woman' to be banned?

Aretha Franklin fans are defending her music after an LGBTQI+ activist page called her 1967 classic, '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman', offensive to transgender people. 

The post, which was shared by a Twitter page called the Trans Cultural Mindfulness Alliance (TCMA), went viral around the world. 

"Aretha Franklin's 1968 song 'Natural Woman' perpetuates multiple harmful anti-trans stereotypes. There is no such thing as a "natural" woman," the post reads. 

It adds that the 'Ever Changing Times' hitmaker's "song has helped inspire acts of harm against transgender women".

"TCMA is requesting it is removed from Spotify & Apple Music."

The page also took a swipe at Patti LaBelle's 'Lady Marmalade', saying it "assumes that only cisgender women can be sex workers". 

@MsPattiPatti + encourages her to STOP performing the song."

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Several publications including the Daily Mail and Sky News Australia covered the widely panned post.  

The group, which claims it is based in Norway, sparked outrage.

"Stupidest tweet ever. On behalf of all normal people, I request you remove your Twitter account," one tweep wrote. 

Many people from the LGBTQI+ community also came forward to say that they love Aretha's music and have no problems with the 76-year-old's song. 

Following the backlash, TCMA updated its Twitter bio to make it clear that the post was made in jest. "If you think it's parody it is," the bio now reads. 

"As you now have probably figured out, this is satire and not actually serious," TCMA said in response to some of the hateful comments it received. 

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The group, which appears to have been started in January 2023, also slammed members of the media who reported on the tweet. 

"I am stunned that not a single media outlet who reported on the Aretha Franklin tweet eve attempted to contact this account for comment. Based on the sheer ridiculousness of the content on this page, how can journalists not comprehend that this is parody/satire?" TCMA wrote in a since-deleted tweet. 

Parody or not, many were upset with the post, with some saying it will open the transgender community to more hate.

"I’m stunned that you may not realize that the part of the trans community that will most be impacted by this tweet are black trans women and we don’t have the capacity to run satire site because we’re trying to eat, find housing and not have our lives ended. Do better. Please," one Twitter user wrote.  

The TCMA page claims its "mission is to push forward the culture and remove harmful anti-trans associations in music, movies and television" but it seems to be doing more harm than good. 

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Image credit: YouTube/Aretha Franklin( Ever Changing Times (Official Music Video) ft. Michael McDonald)