Monty Python's 'Loretta': Then and Now

American Thinker ^ | 18 Jun, 2026 | C.H. Howard |

[MtnClimber]

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 babies -- and theoretically, if they choose, change their name to Stan. The ubiquitous “pregnant man” emoji reflects this cultural view (although, according to Emojipedia, this image is sometimes used to represent a man who has eaten too much).

It turns out, though, that Brian is not Python’s only comedic prophecy of today’s anything-goes Gender Studies course. In season two, episode one of Python’s Flying Circus BBC series (1969), Cleese portrays Ken Clean-Air System

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TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: leftism; liberaltruth

[MtnClimber]

The left has turned our society into a not-too-funny joke.

[Red Badger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV0vvOXVEK0

[Tell It Right]

Agreed. The left would be ridiculously funny if they didn’t wield the power of government and culture change. Before Babylon Bee’s humor was prophetic, there was Monty Python.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

This skit is an interesting cultural milestone. Monty Python was funny but, for the most part, ridiculed conservative British society. They did not ridicule much that was on the Left. At the time, this skit probably was not viewed as political or taking a stand against liberal pieties. When you hear the remaining Monty Python crew today in interviews, they are definitely liberal but you can tell that they are not comfortable with modern radical liberalism and cancel culture.

[tlozo]

[TBP]

It’s virtually impossible to make comedy so outrageous that liberals can’t enact it.

[Sicon]

STAN: It's every man's right to have babies if he wants them.

REG: But you can't have babies.

STAN: Don't you oppress me.

REG: I'm not oppressing you, Stan -- you haven't got a womb. Where's the fetus going to gestate? You going to keep it in a box?

(STAN starts crying.)

[Sicon]

Ah, thank you! Much better than my post!

[stremba]

Yes, they are liberals. So were most Dems prior to this century. We disagreed with them on many issues, but fundamentally we agreed on our basic founding principles - individual freedoms like free speech, freedom of religion, etc. There are few liberals left today. The Dems of today with few exceptions (looking at you John Fetterman) are no longer liberals. They are self-identified progressives (another misnomer). Probably it’s best to quit calling them liberals since they are not. Radical leftists fits better.

[montag813]

It’s also nice to see John Cleese 100% based on Islam taking over Britain.

[cowboyusa]

The film was labeled Blasphemy, but YESHUA is treated respectfully throughout. Godspell is real blasphemy.