The mountain, which had been drawn on a piece of cardboard, served as a backdrop for an online performance at the Leicester Comedy Festival. However, Ives emphasized that it was more than just a prop; it symbolized the daily challenges faced by transgender individuals in Britain, who must constantly confront adversities as if climbing a hill. Despite the tough premise for a comedy show, Ives assured that she was well-equipped to tackle the subject as a transgender person herself. The increased visibility of transgender individuals in British culture has also brought about opposition to transgender rights, both in traditional media and on social platforms. In stand-up comedy, a reflection of societal concerns, transgender issues have often been treated as a joke. In a recent phone interview, Jen Ives, a trans comedian, discussed the pressure she sometimes feels to represent the entire transgender community on stage. Unlike the United States, where transgender issues are split along political lines, in Britain, voices from both the left and right have expressed concerns about allowing transgender women to use bathrooms that match their gender identity. JK Rowling, the author of the popular "Harry Potter" books, is one of the most well-known figures in Britain to voice these concerns, leading to accusations of transphobia. In a 2018 study from UCLA, it was found that concerns about safety and privacy regarding transgender individuals were unfounded. Dan Healey, an academic at the University of Oxford's Centre for Gender, Identity, and Subjectivity, explained in a phone interview that the debate over transgender rights in Britain is more prominent compared to the United States. He mentioned that there are two groups of feminists in the debate - those who believe trans women are women and those who do not. British comedian Jen Ives expressed concern over the treatment of trans people in the UK, stating that it feels like there is an effort to dehumanize them. Ives, 30, stated that transgender individuals are often not seen as human beings, but rather as a topic of debate or a passing trend. She has been discussing her experiences as a transgender person since starting stand-up comedy in 2017, and audiences appreciated her willingness to address the subject. Her show "Peak Trans" was created in response to the negative atmosphere towards transgender individuals in Britain. Ives believes that making people laugh may not change their opinions, but it does show them that transgender individuals are real people. Even when discussing serious issues, Ives always included humor in her performance. She mentioned that being transgender is not the only aspect of her identity, also noting that she is a vegetarian. Despite wanting to go vegan, she felt that as a trans woman, she had already caused her father enough stress. Transgender comedians have been performing in Britain for many years, with well-known figures like Eddie Izzard using she/her pronouns and dressing in feminine attire since the 1990s. Debra-Jane Appleby and Bethany Black, both trans stand-up comedians, have achieved success in the British comedy scene. Black once stated that most people do not care about her being trans, and she chuckled when reminded of this during a recent video interview. "Yeah, that's changed a bit," she remarked. In the past, people believed there were only a few transsexuals in the world, around 10 or 15, she explained. But now, the perception has shifted to thinking they are widespread and trying to participate in sports. Despite her tendency to joke about transphobia during her performances, Black admitted that the ongoing debate in Britain about trans individuals has negatively affected her well-being. She disclosed that she was diagnosed with agoraphobia a couple of years ago, attributing much of it to the constant feeling of being embroiled in this ongoing battle. Black also expressed frustration with comedians and TV shows that resort to making thoughtless jokes about transgender individuals. These jokes had become a common aspect of some popular comedians' acts, which James Acaster poked fun at in a 2019 performance. Despite many comedians claiming to be bold and supportive of free speech, they would avoid making these jokes when performing on the same bill as her, according to Black. One comedian who did not shy away from controversial jokes was Adam Rowe, who had a routine about Victoria's Secret not casting transgender or plus-size models in their shows. In a photo taken remotely, British comedian Bethany Black is shown on February 25, 2021. Black spoke about the challenges of being transgender, emphasizing that it is a daily reality for her, not just a hypothetical situation. She mentioned that many British comedians make jokes about trans people, but they tend to avoid these jokes when she is also performing. In a recent routine, the comedian made a joke about someone having hands like shovels. He also mentioned that Victoria’s Secret had recently cast a transgender model. Bethany Black, a British comedian, spoke about her experience as a transgender person, stating that it is something she deals with every day. She mentioned that many British comedians make jokes about trans people but usually avoid them when she is on the same lineup. The comedian defended the joke in an email. He stated that the routine is not transphobic and was actually designed to deceive people who are not paying attention into thinking that it is. He mentioned that people often get caught up in buzzwords. Ives observed that some non-trans comedians can successfully perform trans material and it can be very funny. She acknowledged that she is able to laugh at herself, but at times it can feel like a mean-spirited insult. She shared that she has frequently had to follow male comedians who have made jokes about transgender women during her career. In those situations, she usually mocks the comedian in return, viewing it as making the best of a bad situation. "I'd prefer not to." During her recent performance, Ives slowly guided her audience towards the metaphorical Peak Trans, pausing to make jokes about transgender individuals in sports and her own coming out process. However, as they neared the summit, one topic became unavoidable. "I apologize," Ives remarked. "We need to address JK Rowling." Ives began by joking about Rowling's latest book "Troubled Blood," which includes a male murderer who pretends to be a woman. Ives expressed a desire to speak out as an activist against it, but noted the challenge of the book's length, which is 1,000 pages. Rowling's desire for individuals like Ives to refrain from using women's spaces and use men's toilets was expressed by Ives. She also likened trans women to spiders, noting similarities in fear levels between trans women and others.