What is the correct response to TERF?

I'm quite happy to miss the point and tell them about the differences between me and a proper RADICAL feminist until they glaze over and drift off.

I would point out that TERF is a misogynistic slur against a group of people with a legally protected belief under the Equality Act.

Shrug and 'Okay.'
People can call me what they like AFAIC.

I was called a terf at a work's Christmas do a few years ago. I just walked away. I'm at a work's do with the same crowd this weekend.
I may say "yes, I am tired of explaining reality to fuckwits". Or I may just walk away again.

My imagined response would be "my feminism isn't trans exclusionary, I think feminism is for all women, including women who consider themselves trans. My feminism does exclude men though. I wouldn't consider myself that radical, but thanks."

In reality I'd probably be too nervous to say anything, or I'd say something that sounded aggressive because of feeling defensive.

I think in the circumstances of the OP you could say, "JKR has spoken up for women's rights, she's never said anything against trans people, and the fact that I've checked out what she actually tweeted doesn't make me a terf"

That has, in court, been legally determined a term of abuse based on prejudice and intolerance of other beliefs and faiths. It will be an HR matter if you continue to abuse me.

That's the bottom line.

Do you not agree female type women should have equality of access to society then?

Or

Oh so you're for female women being raped in prisons and hospital wards then? As has happened, let me find you the evidence. You support female body counts for male happiness do you? How very bloody interesting. Sterilising children, are you behind that too? How about safeguarding? Think that's a good thing?

Or

Which BIT exactly did you have a problem with for JKR? Which article?

Because they never fucking know, they're just parroting the never ending bullshit brainwash that emanates from activists like a tide.

Do you know what 'Useful Idiot' means? Is another way to put it.

Love it. Not least because that is exactly what it is.

Per Hadley Freeman in her Woman's Hour interview: I identify as a Reality Based Feminist.

Perhaps the correct response is
«Why, Thank you!»

havent rtft but I for one am delighted and honored to be a bigoted, racist, gay-slaying (not my words - but really got called that) terfy domesticated zombie. It makes my day every time.
Because why would I care what people call me when they ALSO believe that humans can akshuly change their akshul biological sex just by THINKING it with their brains?

Yes I'm tired of explaining reality to fuckwits 👍👍👍

Not sure how many would get it, but

"you would have made for a good Red Guard leading 'criticism and self-criticism' sessions under Mao"

would have been a well deserved reply.

Or something that usually gets the point pretty effectively:

"would you care to write that down, date and sign?"

and I don't want to be another of those women who are "cancelled" and dragged through the mud for expressing facts.

I’ve been there (although I wasn’t permitted to speak publicly about my experience) and it is really tough. You feel as though your whole character and professional life is being undermined. I don’t know how Ms Forstater coped (although I think she had family support; I don’t).

It happened to me before the Forstater appeal, so I couldn’t cite that. But you can.

Your colleague sounds like a male chauvinist prig.

I tried all of the adult approaches suggested by Datun and others. I got:

I don't care about sports.
That's a straw man (about rape in prisons).
I don't fucking want to (about quoting me one transphobic line from JKR).
This is why I stay off Twitter because it's a cesspit (about everything else I said). I didn't like to tell him it's the radicalisation portal of toilet brushes, Boden and vipers. I stay off Twitter too.

At this point there was shouting. I'm still not speaking to him. I think it's because eve since I've known him he's done mothing for anyone while I've always been the right on person working to make the world better. He doesn't want to do the work, but proving I'm an arsehole negates it.

I go with do you mean tired of explaining reality to fantasists - marginally more polite that the one quoted earlier.

I was called a TERF at work the other day.

That is pretty insulting & a term of abuse, simply for expressing an opinion on a writers' writing.

Given the outcome of Maya Forstater's hearing, you could well raise a grievance against the colleague who labelled you this way, or at the very least, if YOU are threatened with disciplinary proceedings, cite the Forstater case.

You are covered by the Equalities Act.

In fact your reaction op is everything that's wrong. This situation has become the Emperors New Clothes. No one wants to say 'but he's naked' or 'yup, I don't think men can become women' but almost everybody is thinking it.

“It’s funny how often that term is used by men against women isn’t it? But if being a TERF means I don’t think female prisoners should be locked in with male rapists who identify as women then so be it.”

Hopefully gives others around you an idea that what it means is an opinion shared by many people.

I think OP this situation sums up how the majority who I believe have this view are silenced - the fear of losing jobs and employer action. I don't even believe that the employer in the majority of cases believe it but again they are frightened into this situation.
I feel strongly that an employer can tell you how to act but cannot tell you what to think.

I suggest, given it was a man making the comment, a slightly incredulous smile, and ‘Are you the office feminism expert now? Self appointed I presume- it certainly wasn’t by popular vote.’

Own it and don't take it as an insult.
'Yeah, I don't think natal men should be in women's spaces or sports.'
And remember that the vast majority of people agree with you, even if they're too scared to voice it.

Laughter.