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Monty Python's 'Loretta': Then and Now

In recent years, much has been made of the classic Monty Python “Loretta” scene from the 1979 film Life of Brian. 

C.H. Howard | June 18, 2026

In recent years, much has been made of the classic Monty Python “Loretta” scene from the 1979 film Life of Brian. To refresh our memories, the People’s Front of Judea (not to be confused with the Judean People’s Front!) are plotting their overthrow of Roman tyranny. As Reg (played by John Cleese) is moderating the discussion, Francis (Michael Palin) espouses the inalienable rights of every man while Stan (Eric Idle) continually interrupts Francis’ “every man” statements with the addition of “or every woman,” leading Francis to eventually forget what he was saying in the first place. When Francis regains his thoughts and asks Stan why he is “always on about women,” Stan replies that he wants to be one. In fact, he henceforth wishes to be known as Loretta (which is “his right as a man”). He further declares that he wants to have babies (“It’s every man’s right to have babies.”) and when Reg pushes back that men can’t have babies, Stan’s response sums up the exchange: “Don’t you oppress me!”

Who could have known that this piece would ring with such prescience 46 years later? Today, the progressive left insists that men can indeed have babies. They confidently assert that gender is not tied to sex indicators such as reproductive organs, in which case biological women who identify as men can have........

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