J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, stirred up further controversy on Tuesday with a tweet that recognized International Women’s Day while also alluding to previous transphobic remarks she’s made.
The latest comments were made in response to a discussion about planned changes to Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which would reform the country’s present gender rules to make legally changing gender easier for citizens. Rowling has criticized the bill as well as Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP).
On Saturday, Rowling tweeted about the law, tagging Sturgeon in a message warning of the bill’s “potentially devastating repercussions” for women and girls, “especially the most vulnerable.” She also shared a link to an article about a trans lady found guilty of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in a shop washroom in Scotland in 2018.
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
In a Twitter thread on Tuesday, which happened to be International Women’s Day, Rowling blasted the Labour Party of the United Kingdom for its attitude on gender and equality (March 8). Rowling mentioned the festival in a tweet, which sparked more outrage on social media.
Rowling wrote, “Apparently, under a Labour government, this will become We Who Must Not Be Named Day.”
Apparently, under a Labour government, today will become We Who Must Not Be Named Day.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 8, 2022
The BBC interviewed Anneliese Dodds, the Chair of the Labour Party of the United Kingdom, earlier on Tuesday. Dodds claimed there are “various definitions” of what constituted a woman while addressing the Gender Recognition Bill.
Rowling responded by tweeting: “Please send a dictionary and a backbone to the Shadow Minister for Equalities. #HappyInternationalWomensDay.”
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
Before writing her statement on “We Who Must Not Be Named Day,” the author tweeted a message of support for Joanna Cherry, a member of the UK Parliament who has been accused of transphobia.
This is what a woman who owns a dictionary and a backbone looks like. @joannaccherry pic.twitter.com/djBuD1QiBF
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 8, 2022
During a BBC radio interview on Monday, Sturgeon was asked about Rowling’s remarks.
“She, like me, and everyone else, is plainly free to express their opinions. But that isn’t the point of this debate,” Sturgeon added, explaining that the Gender Recognition Bill is intended to make the legal process of changing genders “less painful and brutal for trans individuals, one of our society’s most stigmatized minorities.” It doesn’t grant trans individuals any extra rights, and it doesn’t give them any rights that they don’t already have. It also doesn’t take away any of the rights that women already have under the Equalities Act.”
Rowling has been accused of transphobia since June of 2020, however, she has denied having any negative feelings toward transgender persons. “I know and adore trans individuals,” she stated in a tweet on June 6, 2020, “but removing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to truly discuss their lives.”
Rowling then penned an essay on gender issues a few days later, which enraged even more people. “TERF wars,” she captioned the essay that she shared on Twitter. (Comedian Dave Chappelle used the phrase TERF, which stands for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist,” when he controversially defended Rowling during a Netflix stand-up special in the fall.)
Rowling was questioned on Twitter on Tuesday if she wanted her “legacy to perish on this hill.”
“Yes, I’m staying right here on this hill, defending the right of women and girls to speak freely about themselves, their bodies, and their lives “Rowling retaliated. “I’ll worry about my legacy while you worry about yours.”
