Bill Maher is an American comedian and anti-transgender activist. Maher is a key historical figure in the “reactionary centrist” faction of anti-trans extremists.
Background
William “Bill” Maher was born on January 20, 1956 in New York City. Maher earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in 1978 and began a comedy career in 1979.
Maher hosted the panel show Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher on Comedy Central from 1993 to 1997 and on ABC from 1997 to 2002. In 2003 Maher began hosting the weekly show Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO.
Anti-trans activism
Maher hosts Real Time with Bill Maher, a political talk show on HBO that has platformed many anti-trans figures over the course of the series. Maher has had a far smaller number of trans-supportive guests and only a few trans and gender diverse guests.
Maher also hosts Club Random with Bill Maher, a podcast that has also consistently platformed anti-trans guests.
References
Eckstein, Griffin (February 8, 2025). âStay the f**k out of trans kidsâ businessâ: Hayes pushes back against Maherâs anti-trans rhetoric. Salon https://www.salon.com/2025/02/08/stay-the-fk-out-of-trans-kids-business-hayes-pushes-back-against-mahers-anti-trans-rhetoric/
Taheri, Mandy (October 28, 2024). Megyn Kelly’s Remarks to Bill Maher About Transgender Kids Go Viral. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/megyn-kellys-remarks-bill-maher-about-transgender-kids-go-viral-1975402
Berry, Susan (November 26, 2024). Bill Maher rebukes Democrats for losing election over anti-science trans ideology. Read Lion https://readlion.com/bill-maher-rebukes-democrats-for-losing-election-over-anti-science-trans-ideology/
Berlinerblau, Jacques (January 12, 2025). Opinion: Bill Maher serves up old, warmed-over beefs in new special. MSNBC https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/bill-maher-special-is-anybody-else-seeing-this-rcna187017
Russell, Lia (April 2, 2025). Gavin Newsom calls Democratic brand âtoxicâ on Bill Maher show. Sacramento Bee https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article303144894.html
Smith, Ryan (January 7, 2025). Bill Maher, Jon Cryer Clash During Awkward Podcast Moment. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/bill-maher-jon-cryer-club-random-transgender-debatea-2010873
Suter, Tara (February 25, 2025). Maher: Democrats will âlose every electionâ without shift on trans issues. The Hill https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5163583-maher-criticizes-democrats-on-transgender-issues/
Gabriel Hays (September 4, 2023) Bill Maher tells Joe Rogan gender surgeries are harmful, claims kids turn trans to say âf— youâ to parents. Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/bill-maher-tells-joe-rogan-gender-surgeries-harmful-claims-kids-turn-trans-say-f-you-parents
Staff (August 6, 2023). Bill Maher interviews Riley Gaines to discuss the Transgender movement in sports, including penis sizes. Marca https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/tv-shows/2023/08/06/64ceeb79e2704e1ea48b460f.html
Tapper, Jake (March 1, 2023). Maher: ‘Woke’ community wants to ‘shut down debate’ around transgender issues. CNN https://www.cnn.com/videos/media/2023/03/01/bill-maher-transgender-community-debate-tapper-intv-sot-vpx.cnn
Joseph A. Wulfsohn (January 21, 2023). Bill Maher says Biden admin âall-inâ on trans indoctrination of kids https://nypost.com/2023/01/21/bill-maher-biden-all-in-on-trans-indoctrination-of-kids/
Jong-Fast, Molly (May 26, 2022). Bill Maher Isnât a Liberal Anymore. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/05/bill-maher-anti-lgbtq-transgender-comments/676673/
Molly Jong-Fast (May 26, 2022). Bill Maher Isnât a Liberal Anymore. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/05/bill-maher-anti-lgbtq-transgender-comments/676673/
GLAAD (May 21, 2022). GLAAD Responds to âReal Time with Bill Maherâ Segment âAlong for the Pride.â https://glaad.org/glaad-responds-real-time-bill-maher-segment-along-pride-1/
Vakil, Caroline (May 21, 2022). Maher says increase in those identifying as LGBT partly attributed to being ‘trendy’. The Hill
Haring, Bruce (May 20, 2022). âReal Timeâsâ Bill Maher Claims Rise Of LGBTQ May Be Sparked By Need To Be Trendy. Deadline https://deadline.com/2022/05/bill-maher-real-time-claims-rise-lgbtq-trans-people-may-be-sparked-by-need-to-be-trendy-1235029488/
Wakefield, Lily (May 21, 2022). Bill Maher says US is ‘experimenting on kids’ and ‘everyone will be gay by 2054’. PinkNews
GLAAD (April 19, 2021). Medical Association Statements Supporting Trans Youth Healthcare and Against Discriminatory Bills. https://www.glaad.org/blog/medical-association-statements-supporting-trans-youth-healthcare-and-against-discriminatory
Media
Big Joel (August 5, 2025). Bill Maher: An autopsy (Part 4: Trans people). https://youtu.be/8THCFfg2BY8?si=vpHbeGIObnpobDmn&t=2649
Rising with Briahna Joy Gray and Robby Soave (November 7, 2023). Bill Maher takes on Trans kids in sports, gender affirming surgery in debate with Neil Degrasse Tyson. The Hill https://thehill.com/video/bill-maher-takes-on-trans-kids-in-sports-gender-affirming-surgery-in-debate-with-neil-degrasse-tyson/9151163/
Maher, Bill (May 20, 2022). New Rule: Along for the Pride. Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMBzfUj5zsg
Resources
Bill Maher (billmaher.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
Twitter (twitter.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Tumblr (tumblr.com)
TikTok (tiktok.com)
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Club Random with Bill Maher (clubrandom.com)