Are trans women women? This question is being hotly debated in Great Britain. Right in the middle: JK Rowling.
In the heated British debate about gender identity, “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling has shown herself to be unforgiving. The writer describes trans women as men and was sharply criticized for this, including by “Harry Potter” actor Daniel Radcliffe.
“Celebrities who have joined a movement that seeks to erode women’s hard-won rights and who have used their platforms to cheer gender reassignment of minors can save their apologies for traumatized detransitionists and vulnerable women who pursue same-sex relationships Spaces depend on,” wrote Joanne K. Rowling on the platform X (formerly Twitter).
The 58-year-old responded to a user’s comment that “Dan and Emma” had to apologize to her for their criticism. British media interpreted Rowling’s statement to mean that she would reject an apology from Radcliffe and his co-star Emma Watson (“Hermione Granger”).
New research report criticizes puberty blockers
The reason was an investigation report published the day before on state offers for transsexual young people in Great Britain. The study by retired pediatrician Hilary Cass finds, among other things, that a lack of research and evidence has led to the incorrect use of hormones and so-called puberty blockers, which prevent the onset of puberty characteristics such as menstruation, breast growth and voice breakage. Rowling then saw her position confirmed.
The social debate about gender identity in Great Britain is increasingly being conducted as a culture war, especially by conservative circles. Rowling regularly causes a stir with statements about trans people and is praised for them by conservative politicians such as former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
In June 2020, she criticized an article that referred to women as “people who menstruate.” The English word “women” was avoided in the article. “I’m sure there used to be a word for these people. Can anyone help?” Rowling wrote mockingly.
Criticism from the “Harry Potter” universe
As a result, actors from the “Harry Potter” films also distanced themselves from her. Sorcerer’s Apprentice actor Radcliffe (34) apologized for the pain the author had caused those affected and emphasized: “Transgender women are women.” Watson, 33, wrote at the time: “Transsexual people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they are not who they are to impersonate.”
Trans people or transgender people are people who do not feel like they belong to the gender they were assigned at birth.
New hate crime law in Scotland
The debate over trans people is being watched even more closely in Britain since tougher hate crime laws came into force on April 1 in Scotland, where Rowling lives. This means that in addition to racially motivated acts and calls for hatred, those based on age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or trans identity are also criminalized.
Rowling made several provocative posts on April 1, adding: “If what I have written here is considered a misdemeanor under the new law, I look forward to being arrested (…).” Police stressed her posts did not constitute crimes under the new law.
In the first week, Police Scotland recorded more than 7,100 online complaints, 240 of which were classified as hate crimes.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
