Open letter by UK writers in solidarity (not with us obviously)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14667225/JK-Rowling-HBO-new-Harry-Potter-open-defiance.html

Looks like the TRA mob are now turning on Paapa now. What a surprise.

Sorry that was for @hihelenhi i thought i was quote replying

Are you sure? The Times article says:

The actors said that they were “adding [their] voices” to the 2000-plus signatories of an open letter from UK writers to the transgender community, which was published last week. The original signatories included Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and Michaela Coel, of Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You fame.

If you click through to the Google doc of the original letter (the one in this thread) it’s the one signed first by Russell T Davies et al

I think Tom Felton’s response some years ago was very good. He refused to be drawn in the subject by saying:
“I’m not Mr Social Affairs … Lord knows, I’m the last person that’s going to wade in with opinions about what other people have said.”
I wish more actors took the view that their fame is not a platform for political activism and does not require them to jump on the latest fashionable political bandwagon.

No. This is an "actors and associated industry luvvies who want to pretend they're progressive" one.

I think it's highly doubtful any of them have actually bothered reading the ruling. Or give the tiniest of shits about the rights of women far less privileged than themselves.

Is this the same letter?
Harry Potter actors sign trans pledge after Supreme Court ruling

https://www.thetimes.com/article/18343aa9-51c9-4d0f-89fc-aa66611ba402?shareToken=c0cebe4ba4f322e2540adbfa3b9a52a3

(saw other thread about Harry Potter actors signing pledge)

If the letter is leaky, has anyone added JKR to fuck with them? 😆

I find it interesting that there has become such an onus on writers to declare their views on the transgender debate. Obviously this is due to Jo Rowling's very public stance - and whether you agree with her or not, she has shown the most extraordinary degree of moral courage.

But my stories (I write for children as well as adults) don't include any sort of transgender references. I hope that I promote values of empathy, generosity, curiosity, moral and physical courage, but I don't try to direct opinions in a political direction on any topic. I have never been asked to state my views on Brexit, Covid vaccinations, gay marriage. I have strong feelings about lots of things, but they stay within the realm of my private life.

Aside from politicians, we haven't asked any other professions to nail their colours to the mast on this issue. What about nurses, teachers, lawyers, social workers, farmers, insurance brokers? Would you check your plumber's opinion before letting her into your house to fix your leaking pipe?

As for this letter, the fact that it has been mentioned on other websites doesn't lend it any more credibility. We still don't know its source, or the mechanics by which "writers" were invited to add their names. We are trying to raise our children to be independent thinkers, to pause before believing everything they read online, to resist peer pressure. We should lead by example, shouldn't we?

I'm not trying to dismiss the significance of the central issue, or the strength of feelings around it. But if we start burning books because a name has appeared on an unsubstantiated list, isn't that taking us straight back to 1950s McCarthyism? Judge my books as much as you like, they don't appeal to everyone and nor should they, because all art is subjective. But I'm not going to put my name on any lists to win approval from baying online hordes.

On a positive note, though, that signatory list serves as a helpful ‘middle class character name generator’ for any temporarily stumped creatives.

For people who clearly imagine themselves FAR more intelligent/caring and aware than the rest of us mere mortals, not to mention, as writers, being naturally great readers, it is quite amusing to note that those who are genuine signatories (I appreciate some names listed will not be) are clearly not smart enough or great enough readers to have bothered reading the actual judgement.

Fairly basic I would've thought. Cringe.

The few names I know on the list are all very much transactivists (as well as being very minor “creatives”), so I wasn’t surprised to see them on it.

Why the word community? Are they all mates then?

I'm a writer. I've read the entire list of names and besides the 'big names' at the beginning of the list there were maybe 10 more who I know well enough irl to expect to see there. I also spotted the very distinctive name of a friend of one of my kids who is certainly not a writer but definitely a full-on rainbow alphabet warrior, so I guessed this very open letter had been put out on some social media platform for anyone to sign. If 'woman' can mean anything, who's to gatekeep 'writer'?

I'm not surprised to read angryauthor's post about GC names being added out of spite. I was going to say when those tactics are used all credibility is lost, but given the state of the letter itself that ship had sailed before the first signature was added. Did none of these literary luminaries read it?

I'm probably less conservative on a lot of issues, but certainly recognise the reduction in some of the "the way the world should be" thinking.

There's nothing like having a baby to really drive home some sex and gender realities.

PinkNews has reported on it, fwiw.

https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/04/24/uk-supreme-court-ruling-trans-open-letter/

And The Stage.

https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/michaela-coel-and-james-graham-demand-active-support-for-transgender-people

This X account shared it five days ago:

https://x.com/JamesSilvester1/status/1913513440141828490

It's certainly perfectly believable that the letter exists.

I'm also unsurprised if names have been added without their owners' permission - it's not the first time!

However, it's a very good reminder that it's always sensible to check sources and try to verify information beyond just seeing it on the internet.

Wow... so feel for you angryauthor · Today 10:24

I suspect/hope that this "letter" has already been forgotten but it's worth pointing out that it's a fake. I am an established author, my name is on the list and I absolutely did not put it there. It might be worth considering how this letter was organised so swiftly. Do you think we're all on a massive WhatsApp group, ready to be summoned at a moment's notice?
Don't rush to burn the books of everyone listed. We all get enough criticism for our work. We don't need to be attacked for something we didn't do.

This thread has inspired me to buy some Rachel Rooney books for my kids.

One name for you, Margaret Atwood. From The Handmaid's Tale to handmaiden. No one would ever have thought it, but she turned out to be as compliant as everyone else.

Why not start a letter featuring authors who support reality: male and female biology, single-sex spaces, lesbians and gays same-sex attracted, no such thing as a trans child? See who's prepared to sign (JKR and a couple more, I imagine) then come back and tell us that we've been foolish.

Thanks. I can't see a source for it on there, either.

Bloody hell thats appalling

i hope you can get your name removed