Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling continued to attack transgender women online, but this time the billionaire straight woman opted to speak on behalf of lesbians.
And it landed with a thud, launching the hashtag #JKRowlingDoesntSpeakForMe.
Related: Emma Watson makes subtle dig at J.K. Rowling during awards show
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Rowling’s continued transphobic antics have led many Harry Potter fans to distance themselves from her. Rowling has found support, however, in the far-right.The author has issued diatribes about transgender people, come out in support of conversion therapy for trans people, and claimed that almost everyone agrees with her, even as famous people that she has worked with condemned her words. She also published a book about a man who wears dresses in order to kill women.
As part of her ongoing back-and-forth with anti-transgender activists who describe themselves as “feminists” with the same ignorant glee that Republican gun owners define themselves as “pro-life,” Rowling decided to wade into the water.
She responded back to a man who had tweeted to her, “It’s a tragedy and a scandal that our gay rights organisations are now dedicated to undermining both women’s rights and the very foundation of same-sex attraction.”
“Innumerable gay people have been in touch with me to say exactly this,” Rowling pontificated in her retweet. “Like women, they – especially lesbians – are under attack for not wishing to be redefined and for refusing to use ideological language they find offensive.”
But the vast majority of lesbians – and the rest of the LGBTQ community – don’t feel “under attack” by our fellow community members. And we’ve seen these types of attacks from straight people before – including those who gussy up their claims with “my gay friend” appeals.
“Nah, we stand with the trans community. It’s also not an attack to call someone out for their transphobia!” activist Eliel Cruz tweeted in reply.
“Her attitude and behaviour disgusts me,” Elizabeth Hamlet replied. “Someone I once considered a hero and admired so much. It’s broken my heart to see she is full of hate and encourages hate towards others. I’m a cis woman and consider myself a feminist. She does not speak for me.”
“Since #JKrowlingDoesntSpeakForMe is trending can I just put out there that as a real woman and not a fragile man that JK ROWLING DOES SPEAK FOR ME,” conservative journalist Sophie Corcoran added.
And when Andrew Wheeler implored Rowling that “It’s not too late for you to walk back from the dark path you’ve found yourself on,” he finished by asking her to “please listen tot he people who are asking you to lead with love.”
But like Voldemort himself, instead, Rowling opted to retweet one of her anti-trans cohorts who linked him to “paedophiles, rapists & misogynists.” She apparently opted to skip right over “love” and go for “dangerous stereotypes that lead to violence and death threats” instead. With over 13M followers, the influential author’s claims and castigations have led to threats of violence and online harassment by her anti-trans fans.
“She’s playing with my personal safety for rhetorical clout,” he posted in response. “She’s inviting death threats against me because I asked her to lead with love rather than play into the hands of the far right.”
“Ms Rowling, please, look at what comes so easily to you. Look at what you’ve become.”
Innumerable gay people have been in touch with me to say exactly this. Like women, they – especially lesbians – are under attack for not wishing to be redefined and for refusing to use ideological language they find offensive. https://t.co/kT2J8UtDHU
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 12, 2022
She's playing with my personal safety for rhetorical clout. She's inviting death threats against me because I asked her to lead with love rather than play into the hands of the far right.
Ms Rowling, please, look at what comes so easily to you. Look at what you've become.
— Andrew Wheeler (@Wheeler) March 12, 2022
Nah, we stand with the trans community. It’s also not an attack to call someone out for their transphobia!
— Eliel Cruz (@elielcruz) March 12, 2022
Her attitude and behaviour disgusts me. Someone I once considered a hero and admired so much. It's broken my heart to see she is full of hate and encourages hate towards others. I'm a cis woman and consider myself a feminist. She does not speak for me #JKrowlingDoesntSpeakForMe
— Elizabeth Hamlet (@Levicoaster) March 14, 2022
#JKDoesntSpeakForMe #JKrowlingDoesntSpeakForMe she doesnt amplify my voice she hasnt advocated for me she has done nothing to protect my rights as a lesbian and gnc nb woman She has actively endangered me and my friends and family with her rhetoric Im so tired of her bigotry. https://t.co/6BuNJsXFaL
— RobotCritter 👾🐿💖 (@CritterRobot) March 14, 2022
Least of all if you're a multi-millionaire cishet #JKRowlingDoesntSpeakForMe #JKDoesntSpeakForMe pic.twitter.com/JcnHidhB5f
— clarissa is rewriting star wars ix (@ClarissaDeLune) March 14, 2022
Since #JKrowlingDoesntSpeakForMe is trending can I just put out there that as a real woman and not a fragile man that
JK ROWLING DOES SPEAK FOR ME
— Sophie Corcoran 💚🤍💜 (@sophielouisecc) March 13, 2022
I am a bisexual cisgendered man and #JKrowlingDoesntSpeakForMe. Her foul rhetoric about transgender people shows a wanton lack of empathy that is only exacerbated by the terribly hateful content of her books, which exhibit racism, stereotypes, and endorse bullying. https://t.co/Sa0LTPzut6
— Phobos Reborn (@DauntlessPhobos) March 13, 2022
I'm queer, you don't speak for me or any of my LGBTQ+ friends. #JKrowlingDoesntSpeakForMe pic.twitter.com/lRdufAHQ6a
— Patsy Stevenson (@PatsyeStevenson) March 13, 2022