News (World)

J.K. Rowling sides with anti-trans activist in explosive tweet

JK Rowling arriving for the World Premiere of "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 at Trafalgar Square in London on 07/07/2011
JK Rowling arriving for the World Premiere of "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 at Trafalgar Square in London on 07/07/2011 Photo: Shutterstock

Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling made a bold statement against transgender equality on Twitter, confirming to her millions of followers that she is sympathetic to transgender exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs).

On Twitter, the former billionaire wrote that people could “dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.”

Related: Bette Midler apologizes, sort of, for transphobic Caitlyn Jenner tweet

She then wrote, “But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?” with the hashtag #IStandWithMaya, referring to British TERF Maya Forstater.

Forstater is a tax expert at the Centre for Global Development, and her employer decided not to renew her contract after they found “offensive and exclusionary” language about transgender people in her tweets, including saying that “men cannot change into women” and that discrimination against transgender women can “hurt mens feelings.”

She filed a complaint against her employer, saying that her transphobia is a protected characteristic under the U.K.’s Equality Act.

A judge yesterday ruled that being transphobic is not a protected class and that her anti-transgender viewpoint “creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment” that is “not worthy of respect in a democratic society,” so her employer had a right to let her go.

TERFs in the U.K. have been arguing that they are the real victims of a system that sometimes punishes transphobia and have been using the hashtag #IStandWithMaya to express their point of view.

J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender people have been the subject of speculation for years. This past January, Twitter users found her liking comments from TERFs who, for example, called transgender women “men in dresses.”

Rowling’s publicist said that the author “had a clumsy and middle-aged moment” and was holding her phone incorrectly and accidentally liked those comments.

But, for fans, this tweet settled the debate and put Rowling firmly on the side of TERFs. Many of her fans on Twitter were disappointed.

But Forstater herself was happy to have Rowling on her side.

 

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

House Democrats vote to impeach Donald Trump. Fox News & the GOP were impeached too

Previous article

Trump got impeached & everyone is talking about Nancy Pelosi

Next article