Can't believe I'm writing this, but disappointed in JK today

And actually braver to recognise that there is dissonance, mud and complexity. It’s much easier to be categorical and hardline, than to work with, in and around nuance.

Sounds like some of you are so angry about the issue you've forgotten that trans people are people and hence deserving of basic respect, as are we all.

I’m not disappointed in her at all, she’s merely described her own personal experience while simultaneously reiterating the importance of single sex spaces. Amazing woman.

Realistically, I think there's always likely to be a degree of pussyfooting around the feelings of family members and friends, with some people feeling that pronouns is a tactful concession in those cases, while others draw the line at pretending at all, for anyone.

Where there should be no concession is in regard to compelled speech and emotional blackmail. "Preferred pronouns" should not have any official status (or any "unofficially official" status). No sanctions by employers or anyone else, let alone the law of the land. No treating people more favourably if they do the pronoun thing. No oh-what-a-bigot-you-are moral posturing if they don't.

I also think it's very important to use sex-based pronouns correctly in news stories, and in any discussions of issues like sport and single-sex spaces, because all the "she only wants..." really does a number on people.

Totally agree. Unfortunate phrase, imo. But entirely up to her to use it if she wants to. It will be interesting seeing her defend against all the flak that’s coming her way as we speak 🤣
Meanwhile, her charities continue to do sterling work for women and children, regardless.

I have no issue if I had a friend who was trans, wanted to be she and called female.

However I can still disagree with biological men in women’s changing rooms / toilets / sports.

For me these aren’t quite the same.

I’d find it impossible to have any less respect for J.K. than I already do.

No she didn’t. She made a different comment about them being unemployable- responding to a TRA indignant rant about how they basically ran an employer round in circles over compliance issues.

It's really not JK's job to speak for every woman. Whatever her opinions are, are hers. You don't need to be "disappointed" in her for having them.

I, too, have trans friends. That doesn't mean I want them in the space where I'm changing any more than I would want my male presenting friends.

I think “female coded energy” will come back to bite her on the bum. It is exactly the sort of meaningless word salad that has been used by TRAs to confound and befuddle the hard of thinking into believing that men can, after all, turn out to be women.

Insanely smart woman refuses to fall into obvious bear trap, what's the problem?

JKR's super power is that she has never allowed her very important views and understanding to be dismissed as discriminatory on an individual basis, which would allow her to be attacked under the Equality Act. Fabulous woman, and this is not the fulcrum point you think it is.

I agree with her. For me the struggle was always about preserving sex categories in policy and law, and protecting children from poor medical practice. I wanted to uphold freedom of speech and diversity of belief, and those cut both ways. Ive got very little interest in persuading people who identify as trans that their identity is invalid, or persuading others to isolate them.

I've been a radical lesbian feminist for 43 years. During that time I've often been told who I 'should' be friends with. Fuck that.

I think this is a good discussion, we are not a hive mind, we are a broad church and this particular issue, is a struggle for me as i am not sure what i think yet. So I shall listen and learn.

A transwoman who regards themselves as ,and refers to themselves as, a transwoman and not a woman will generally have my respect. I can see where JKR is coming from.

But there’s no hive mind. We don’t all agree on everything. We occasionally agree with Trump and occasionally disagree with … damn, there’s no one sufficiently uncontroversial or universally approved of!

Believing that there is one true way is part of the problem. We all have to muddle through as best we can, in an imperfect world.

Disagree with you OP. Most people on here don't have an issue with how people wish to identify, they have an issue with biological males forcing their way into women's spaces, and the forcing of pronoun use. That doesn't apply here. I think it shows that JKR is more nuanced than people realise, and that is to her credit.

Oh please.

What have you done to further the GC cause that even is a patch on what JKR has done?

This smacks of the KJK purity spiral threads.

I’m a bit worried about this. Someone was referred to in the comments, and they seem a likely candidate. Whoever it is, I hope they are ok. The person I’m thinking of took massive abuse and bullying from TRAs. I really hope this doesn’t cause them problems.

There are some really fragile people out there who will not be helped by being corrected constantly. It’s tragic that’s where they’ve ended up, but me relentlessly confronting them with the unbearable truth isn’t going to help.

Well she can certainly dispel the myth that GC must not know any trans people or they'd change their opinion!

Her friend clearly does not invade women's single sex spaces spaces. It is up to JKR if she calls him 'she' socially.

This is a purity spiral. I wonder about OPs motives.

JK has always said that she wants trans people to live happily and safely. What she is saying in the tweet above is entirely consistent with that.

Hard disagree sorry OP.

I'm a social worker and increasingly find myself working with trans people.

I know/don't believe humans can change sex but when faced with someone in front of me who is trans and meets the criteria for my services then I am polite and respectful and treat them with the same compassion and care as I do anyone else.

If Mr James Bond asks me to call him Jim , or Bob or Jane then I do. I record his sex, his preferred name and if he has told me he identifies as female then I record his gender as female.

You can be gender critical and still be a decent human being towards anyone who doesn't agree with you. Isn't that all any of us are asking for? It's the grown up response for the grownups in the discussion who realise it's not about taking sides but about respect, safety and decency.