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J.K. Rowling Goes Full TERF in New Series of Transphobic Tweets
The Harry Potter author's transphobic rhetoric was met with swift backlash from trans people, allies, and GLAAD.Â
June 06 2020 10:52 PM EST
May 31 2023 6:00 PM EST
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The creator of the Harry Potter empire, J.K. Rowling, unleashed a series of transphobic tweets Saturday even as she claimed to "love" trans people. Her hateful anti-trans rhetoric was met with nearly universal backlash on Twitter. Transgender people, allies, and GLAAD roundly castigated her.
Rowling's Twitter outburst is just the latest example of her invoking anti-trans language used by trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs).
\u201cIf sex isn\u2019t real, there\u2019s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn\u2019t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn\u2019t hate to speak the truth.\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1591480967
\u201cThe idea that women like me, who\u2019ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they\u2019re vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - \u2018hate\u2019 trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense.\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1591480967
\u201cThe idea that women like me, who\u2019ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they\u2019re vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - \u2018hate\u2019 trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense.\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1591480967\u201cI respect every trans person\u2019s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I\u2019d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it\u2019s hateful to say so.\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1591480967
The transphobia on display coincides with the start of Pride Month and nationwide protests against police brutality against the Black community that include marchers seeking justice for the recent killing of Tony McDade, a Black trans man, at the hands of police.
Rowling followed up her initial tweets by dragging lesbians into her rant when she retweeted an article with the headline "Anonymous Letter From a Terrified Lesbian" on the TERF site The Velvet Chronicle.
"I've never felt as shouted down, ignored, and targeted as a lesbian *within* our supposed GLBT community as I have over the past couple of years," Rowling quoted from the article in her tweet as if she has a right to speak on behalf of lesbians.
The Harry Potter author's history of anti-trans pronouncements on social media went full tilt last December when she tweeted her support of a British woman, Maya Forstater, who was fired for her anti-trans rhetoric on social media.
"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," Rowling tweeted Thursday. "But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill" Rowling tweeted.
Just over a week ago, Rowling misgendered a trans woman and referred to a TERF in a tweet that she said was accidental.
GLAAD responded to Rowling by calling on those furious at her to channel their outrage into supporting causes.
\u201cIf you want to direct your rightful anger over JK Rowling's latest anti-trans comments into something positive, support orgs that help Black trans people like @MPJInstitute, @blacktransusa, @TransJusticeFP, @Genderintell and @ukblackpride\u201d— GLAAD (@GLAAD) 1591488416
\u201cJK Rowling continues to align herself with an ideology which willfully distorts facts about gender identity and people who are trans. In 2020, there is no excuse for targeting trans people.\u201d— GLAAD (@GLAAD) 1591488416
Below are a few of the tweets excoriating Rowling's anti-trans language.
\u201c@jk_rowling Here are examples of British health organizations validating trans people:\n\nBritish Medical Association\nRoyal Society of Medicine\nNational Health Service\nRoyal College of Physicians\nRoyal College of Psychiatrists\nRoyal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1591480967
\u201c.@jk_rowling your transphobic, divisive, inhumane, disgusting opinions are 100% the problem. Take your voice, your franchise, your presence, and be gone. EVANESCO!\n\nPRIDE MONTH! And I stand with my entire LGBTQ+ community, especially my Trans family.\n#PrideMonth #LGBTQ\u201d— Javier Mu\u00f1oz (@Javier Mu\u00f1oz) 1591490553
\u201cI was a proud Hufflepuff, and just removed that from my bio. JK really needs to apologize and acknowledge how many people she's hurt with her stance.\u201d— Cheo Hodari Coker (@Cheo Hodari Coker) 1591489017
\u201cWord. Goodnight and shut up \n@jk_rowling\u201d— Sarah Paulson (@Sarah Paulson) 1591489488
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Tracy E. Gilchrist
Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.
Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.