Illustration by Ryan McAmis One of the more unexpected headlines to appear in the British press declared that “David Attenborough fought to put transgender people on TV”. The article, from 2018, told the story of the 1973 BBC series called Open Door , which, in a bold departure from tradition, allowed marginalised groups to speak directly to audiences with minimal editorial interference. An early episode featured members of the Transex Liberation Group, who described what it was like living in a world that saw them as a “problem” to be solved. In another episode, a group of black teachers offered audiences a glimpse into the racism that was in London schools. In television, countless individuals are involved in turning any idea into a programme. But it was David Attenborough, in his role as the BBC’s then director of programmes, who had given Open Door the managerial thumbs-up.…