JK Rowling Is At It Again With Her Opinion On Trans People And Their Rights. Do Her Opinions Even Matter?
As an open and ardent supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, it really disheartens me when people, especially people who have a huge fan base are not accepting of the community considering that they can easily influence so many people. One such person is writer JK Rowling, who has been very outspoken about her opinion on trans people and coming out as a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist). Rowling is at it again as she has sparked backlash with her opposition to Scotland’s new gender law and her problematic Women’s Day tweet.
JK Rowling opposed the change in Scotland’s gender law which will eliminate the need for a medical and psychiatric evaluation before undergoing gender reassignment surgery. It also will reduce the time for one to live with their new gender from 2 years to 6 months. She also attacked Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, for advocating for these changes in the gender law. She also congratulated Susan Dalgety for standing up to Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison.
Exactly this. The law @NicolaSturgeon's trying to pass in Scotland will harm the most vulnerable women in society: those seeking help after male violence/rape and incarcerated women. Statistics show that imprisoned women are already far more likely to have been previously abused. https://t.co/LPN8cx1Vf4
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 5, 2022
The most searing, heartfelt and courageous response yet to @ShonaRobison's astounding claim in the Scottish parliament that there is no evidence sexual predators 'have ever had to pretend to be anything else'. Susan, as a fellow survivor, I salute you. https://t.co/zHmNj29S0b
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 5, 2022
Also Read: JK Rowling Pens A Lengthy Essay Justifying Her Transphobia, Saying She’s A Survivor Of Sexual Assault. It’s Still An Incoherent Argument
A few short days after @ShonaRobison claimed there’s no evidence predators have ‘ever had to pretend to be anything else,’ @MhairiHunter tells concerned women that the way to address their concerns is to pass the legislation they have concerns about. pic.twitter.com/EoV40eej6R
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 7, 2022
and those consequences ensue as a result, the @SNP govt can’t pretend it wasn’t warned. 2/2
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 7, 2022
JK Rowling also received a lot of hate for her Women’s Day tweet. She wrote a thread criticising the Labour Party’s definition of what a woman is. She particularly criticised Annalise Dodds for the video that the Labour party put out for women’s day.
Apparently, under a Labour government, today will become We Who Must Not Be Named Day.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 8, 2022
Someone please send the Shadow Minister for Equalities a dictionary and a backbone.#HappyInternationalWomensDay https://t.co/2dXZivMHyO
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 8, 2022
This morning you told the British public you literally can't define what a woman is. What's the plan, lift up random objects until you find one that rattles? https://t.co/QoBPt5HpKf
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 8, 2022
Also Read: Czech President Milos Zeman Calls Transgender People ‘Disgusting’, Says Sex-Change Surgery Is Crime Of Self Harm.
JK Rowling has previously been known for her problematic opinions on trans people and is still causing controversy and doing harm by publicising these opinions. While she keeps shunning the tag of being transphobic and has been criticised by Harry Potter actors Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Bonnie Wright for views. American musician Tinashe also took to Twitter and lashed out at Rowling asking her to “shut up” after the Twitter thread attacking the Labour Party on women’s day.
Oh my god, SHUT UP
— TINASHE (@Tinashe) March 8, 2022
It genuinely is beyond me why JK Rowling or anyone else cis-het person feels the need to comment on how others choose to identify. A person’s individuality and identity are their own and how they want to address themselves is very personal. Most of their opinions are formed on stereotypes and lack of basic research. And someone please explain to me how JK Rowling can say that she loves trans people and still be a TERF. Make it make sense.
