JK Rowling once again riled fans online with a transphobic remark.
This time, she incurred backlash in response to a Sunday Times article reporting that Police Scotland would record rape suspects with male genitalia as "being committed by a woman if the attacker ‘identifies as a female.'"
On December 12, the Harry Potter author linked The Sunday Times article to a post in which she referenced and updated a quote from George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984.
Rowling wrote:
“War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. The Penised Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman.”
War is Peace.\nFreedom is Slavery.\nIgnorance is Strength.\nThe Penised Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman.https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/absurdity-police-logging-rapists-women-s6576v825\u00a0\u2026— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1639332414
Those who were upset urged her to reconsider her view, including one Twitter user who wrote, “You literally have a castle and you spend your time doing this.”
You literally have a castle and you spend your time doing this— Rob (@Rob) 1639360032
Another asked, “Why is this how you want to be remembered? Why is this the hill you’ve chosen? What do you stand to gain from this?”
Another user commented:
"JK Rowling, a person made famous for writing about wizards and magic and horse-birds and giant murder trees, wants to tell you that trans people don’t exist.”
Fans found it a challenge to support the polarizing author.
I've been trying to defend you for a while. But I can't anymore. You're getting no more support from me.— Jean Turgeon (kloutzzz) (@Jean Turgeon (kloutzzz)) 1639347837
Love is peace.\nFreedom is acceptance.\nUnderstanding is strength.\nTrans women are not a danger to society. J.K Rowling loves to fuel hate towards a whole group of innocent beautiful people.— Daniel Lismore (@Daniel Lismore) 1639388927
you really refuse to let us enjoy them lil books you put out.— king crissle (@king crissle) 1639369845
All the influence you have, and you choose to use it to hurt people who are vulnerable and marginalized.\n\nTruly disgusting.pic.twitter.com/ReS1DzCWJ8— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1639418214
Why does it sound like you\u2019re more upset about trans people than rapists? Feels like your priorities are wrong here, babe.— Nicole Maines (@Nicole Maines) 1639420335
I\u2019m just not sure why you keep talking about it. Your entire point now is hating a community of people? We don\u2019t need to hear from you and your little stories anymore. Enough.— Akilah Hughes (@Akilah Hughes) 1639372888
This is so awful and hurtful. You have such power, yet you choose to wield it to attack people like my daughter, who is one of the loveliest people I know on this planet. Shame on you, and I hope someday you realize the pain you\u2019re causing and deeply feel regret for your words.— R.B. Shifman (@R.B. Shifman) 1639403217
You were my entire childhood. I want to understand you, but this is honestly pretty heartbreaking. I know you won't see this, but I just can't reconcile the person who gave me such happy memories with these thoughts.— Lemon Oreo (@Lemon Oreo) 1639336368
As a former fan of yours, someone who has been long inspired to pursue writing as a result of your work, I cannot put into words how disappointing it is that you've chosen to make hatred your main goal in life now. Congrats, Ms. Rowling - you've become Umbridge.— Gyt Kaliba (@Gyt Kaliba) 1639362274
This wasn't the first time Rowling was in hot water for taking aim at the trans community.
She previously expressed support for Maya Forstater, who lost her job for comments and tweets that were deemed “offensive and exclusionary” and "transphobic."
Expressing solidarity with Forstater in being a public transphobe, Rowling tweeted:
“Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you."
"Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill”
Rowling was also criticized for mocking an article that used the inclusive phrase, "people who menstruate." The article explained that not every person who experiences a period identifies as a female.
In response to the phrase, she tweeted in June 2020:
“I’m sure there used to be a word for these people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud.”
\u2018People who menstruate.\u2019 I\u2019m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? \n\nOpinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruatehttps://www.devex.com/news/sponsored/opinion-creating-a-more-equal-post-covid-19-world-for-people-who-menstruate-97312#.XtwLnv0aEeR.twitter\u00a0\u2026— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1591479351
Weeks after Rowling's post, activist Kenny Ethan Jones tweeted in response:
"Can we stop ignoring the fact that sex, like gender, is a spectrum."
"Stop [invalidating] people based on bodily parts and functions."
"Not all women menstruate, and not all people who menstruate are women. FACTS."
Can we stop ignoring the fact that sex, like gender, is a spectrum. Stop invaliding people based on bodily parts and functions. \n\nNot all women menstruate, and not all people who menstruate are women. \n\nFACTS.— Kenny Ethan Jones (@Kenny Ethan Jones) 1591542401
A 2018 article by Refinery29 explained that women do not menstruate “for many different reasons.”
Writers Jess Commons and Bex Day explained:
“Some may undergo early menopause, some have had hysterectomies for medical issues. Some may be transgender, some suffering from eating disorders.“
"The reasons women don’t have periods can be complicated and diverse, but don’t take away from one central fact: period or no period, if you identify as a woman, you are a woman."
The actors who found fame after starring in the Harry Potter films based on the works of Rowling have spoken out in support of the trans community–including actor Daniel Radcliffe, who starred in the films as the titular wizard.
Radcliffe provided a statement via The Trevor Project–a suicide-prevention/support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens.
“While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment," wrote Radcliffe.
"Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.”
