A response to JK Rowling

[Hjft]

J.K. Rowling, like so many others, has recently been accused of transphobia and targeted for expressing some of her opinions on sex and gender. This is a very nuanced issue which many people struggle with, including members of the trans community. Assuming bigotry and shutting down debate is not the way to address these issues. Instead we should engage in reasoned debate in order to better understand the subtitles and find a way to live together with mutual respect.

On 10 June 2020 JK Rowling wrote about her reasons for speaking out on sex and gender Issues ( www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/ ) . It is a welcome calm voice in what she calls a toxic environment and I commend her bravery for standing up to the bullies. The essay explains eloquently what she believes and why she holds the opinions she does. She opens up about some very personal issues, and I hope all her detractors will read it before shouting her down.

An essay, however well written, carries a bias, and a reasonable author will recognise that bias and be willing to consider that they could be wrong. And so should the reader of an essay. By writing this essay, JK Rowling has exposed some very valid points which the other side of the debate wish to brush aside. However, she has also indicated a bias which I hope to address.

She conflates sex and gender, and she conflates the law and medicine. Firstly she worries that trans activism is ‘pushing to erode the legal definition of sex and replace it with gender’. This legal definition is for the protection of the civil rights of trans people and has no bearing on biology. Trans people still receive healthcare appropriate to their individual biological truths. Every trans person is acutely aware of their biological sex because it is incongruous with their gender. Remember when Harry Potter uses Polyjuice potion to take on the form of Goyle in ‘Chamber of secrets”. He does not stop being Harry. Now imagine if Harry had got stuck, and had to live his life with everyone believing he was Goyle. It would be intolerable for him and would likely lead to mental illness or worse. This is what it’s like for trans people, and why the law is in place to protect their right to be their authentic selves. Being Harry is ‘not a costume’.

This conflation is further illustrated when she expresses alarm that ‘A man who intends to have no surgery and take no hormones may now secure himself a Gender Recognition Certificate and be a woman in the sight of the law’. Again, this demonstrates a conflation of law and medicine. If a trans person can find relief from their gender dysphoria by permanently expressing themselves in an authentic manner then why should we expect them to accept medical intervention in order to get legal protection. Imagine you have a migraine. If sitting in a dark room with a glass of water provides you with sufficient relief, then you shouldn’t be expected to take strong pain killers or accept brain surgery. The ‘man’ she describes is not masquerading as a woman - she is living her authentic identity as a woman. The law protects her rights to do so. She is not a predator, and it should not be assumed that she is. Without these rights, her transgender status would be revealed every time she tries to hire a car, or open a bank account, and it is her safety that is in danger. A man masquerading as a woman is not able to legally get a Gender Recognition Certificate - because they are a man.

[redacted*] I hope JK Rowling’s essay will mark a turning point in the tone of these discussions, and people can start to properly address them.

• [edited by MNHQ to remove inflammatory content - we're allowing the challenges to this section of the OP to remain]

Ah, the attempted transmen gotcha again.

(Starts humming Hips Don't Lie)

The person you describe has a penis (sex male), but is suffering debilitating gender dysphoria gender female). She is a person suffering from an accident of birth

An accident at birth is when (for example) the baby is deprived of oxygen during labour and is left permanently brain damaged. You cannot compare that with a baby being born with a penis because he's a boy.

suffering debilitating gender dysphoria gender female

Then he has a mental health problem that he needs help with. And if he wants help challenging gender stereotypes - I'm his ally!

If a trans person can find relief from their gender dysphoria by permanently expressing themselves in an authentic manner then why should we expect them to accept medical intervention in order to get legal protection.

This is a really good point, and essentially I agree that people should be allowed to live however they want, of course they should.

The majority of trans people are normal people who want to get on with stuff peacefully. Most people aren't saying otherwise.

However, what about the small percentage that dont? And the small percentage of men who abuse this loophole to access vulnerable women? What do we do about them?

Most men don't attack women. But a small amount do. We don't know which ones are dangerous, so we take broad precautions against all men. Self-ID potentially removes those broad precautions. So what do we do?

I also want to point out that any nice, normal trans woman peacefully and harmlessly using female facitilities, IS ALSO AT RISK FROM THOSE WHO WILL ABUSE SELF ID. As much as any other woman there! This will make it less safe for trans users too! I never see this being considered. No one should want this because it isnt safe. There has to be a better option.

A role is something that one plays in a film. Only a minority of people choose to play one in their day to day lives.

OP you are aware that Transwomen do not need to put on a dress, take hormones, surgery, shave or make any changes to their appearance? They are perfectly free to present just like any other man and according to your criteria they are still women and their erect penis should be no bar to stripping off in front of my 12 year old daughter in a communal changing room.

I have no problem with a ‘big burley transman’ or any other women using single sex facilities.

Changing this convention would forcing big burley transmen to use the ladies toilets! Nobody wants that.

Firstly, if a transman wants to use the ladies toilets then they are free to do so, as they are female.

Secondly, transmen on the whole are shorter and lighter than most men, being as their bodies are still female and they would retain their female height and build.

I'm sick of this comparison. A black woman is a woman, just like I'm a white woman. A black woman or a gay woman is not a subset of the category "woman."
Me too, as a black woman I'm not trying change the body I was born the two are not comparable

"She is a person suffering from an accident of birth."

This line annoys me. It's not a "whoopsie" moment in the delivery suite.

Your sex is defined at conception. You then grow a male or female body. This is your sex and you can't deny it.

@Hjft thank you for your post. It is good to read a measured and calm explanation of the trans position.
I welcome people identifying as they wish and living as they want as long as there is no harm to others. My concern is the erosion of protection and measures that have been put in place to gain equality for women who have been abused and discriminated against since the dawn of time - biology is the very basis of that discrimination. What’s your view on that?

A man masquerading as a woman is not able to legally get a Gender Recognition Certificate - because they are a man.

If the law changes to allow self-identification, he will.

Even now, he probably can, if he's prepared to go through the procedures required for a GRC.

And yes, in law, men (including Transwomen) are excluded from single sex spaces, and can be to protect the dignity and privacy of girls EVEN if they have a GRC. Been taking your training from Stonewall have you?

I don't give a shit about transmen using the female toilets.

Even "big and burly" ones (if you actually know any transmen, rather than just seeing pictures you'll know that this trope of the "big and burly" transman is an artefact of carefully taken selfies rather than the general reality of what testosterone and weights can actually achieve with the female body).

You've spoken in a calm way, which is appreciated OP. You've struck the right tone. But your logic is massively flawed. Your argument doesn't hold up. Others have pointed out why.

You are legally incorrect on single sex spaces. Note: Sex is a protected characteristic in law but Gender Identity is not.

Every trans person is acutely aware of their biological sex

So are we, mate.

We see you. Don't ever think that we don't.

She is not a predator, and it should not be assumed that she is.

The majority of males aren't predators. But we assume they might be because we don't know which ones are dangerous.

Without these rights, her transgender status would be revealed every time she tries to hire a car, or open a bank account, and it is her safety that is in danger.

This has never been necessary. There has always been a tacit social acceptance of trans people, because society knows that they are going through a process (legal/medical). Society knew it was a big thing that no one would do unless they were genuine and very much in need of it. Most people supported that. If you remove that process and the associated genuine intent, then the unspoken social trust will go.

A man masquerading as a woman is not able to legally get a Gender Recognition Certificate - because they are a man.

Sorry but you are missing the point totally here. No one is suggesting that a man would try to get a GRC just to access women. We are saying they won't need to. Self ID means any man can wander into a toilet, a changing room, anywhere. He doesn't even have to dress feminine. All he has to say is 'I identify as a woman' and he is in. He may not even be challenged for fear of accusations of transphobia. Tell me honestly-if you are a female or if you are genunine trans woman-do you want this? Do you want your safe spaces available for any man to walk into without challenge?

Meanwhile Philip Bunce changes whether he identifies as a woman or a man depending on the week but is happy to claim an award as a woman in industry. FFS, how is it advancing the cause of equality to give a person who has had all the advantages of male privilege an award that is supposed to recognise the greater challenges of being a woman in a world where male privilege benefits men in the world of work.

This argument is not just about the protection and feelings of men trapped in a woman's body, as you claim OP. I'm not sure what your biological sex is but read JKR's essay again. It's about the safety, security and right to be heard of women too.

@CrocodileFrock

"An essay, however well written, carries a bias, and a reasonable author will recognise that bias and be willing to consider that they could be wrong."

Will you also be willing to consider that you could be wrong?

And why the emphasis on the GRC, when we all know that we aren't allowed to even ask someone whether they have one, and certainly aren't allowed to ask for proof even if someone tells us that they do have one?

Of course I consider I could be wrong. I am commending JK Rowling of trying to de-escalate the debate so views can be shared and understanding reached.

In normal life, whether someone is biologically male or female is irrelevant for most interactions, but is of major significance to a transperson. It's only becomes a real issue when someone looks like a trans person.

My DH isn't a predator either. Which is why when women say "no" he actually listens.

The refusal to hear a woman's "no" tells you a lot about a male human.

Why are we supposed to honour the delusions of the man (sex) who truly truly believes he's a woman inside, when any suggestion we should honour the delusions of the white woman who thinks she's black, or the anorexic teenager who thinks she's fat would be regarded as nonsense?

Why is one brave and stunning and just wanting to live their authentic life, and the others need help to recognise and make peace with their actual reality?

'Changing this convention would forcing big burley transmen to use the ladies toilets! Nobody wants that.'

Why?

OP you need to do some more reading and sort out your own transphobia before you lecture other people.

Every trans person is acutely aware of their biological sex because it is incongruous with their gender.
Using “biological sex” in this way is transphobic - you are assuming there is an easily identifiable “sex” rooted in biology and separate from gender. You probably think there are only two sexes!

If a trans person can find relief from their gender dysphoria by permanently expressing themselves in an authentic manner.
This is transphobic medics gatekeeping. Trans people are not necessarily dysphoric and it is wrong to suggest they would want to live permanently in an authentic manner - trans people want to live as themselves. They don’t need to change anything to do that.

There is still some way to go before transgender people are accepted by society as freely as BAME and Gay people
It’s a failure of intersectionality to separate these out as though there aren’t people who are LGBT+ and/or BAME and trans.

As many people won’t have a discussion with transphobes you might not get for until you address your own transphobia and try to be a better ally.

You haven't explained what "female roles" and "socially female" means?

Why are we supposed to honour the delusions of the man (sex) who truly truly believes he's a woman inside, when any suggestion we should honour the delusions of the white woman who thinks she's black, or the anorexic teenager who thinks she's fat would be regarded as nonsense? Why is one brave and stunning and just wanting to live their authentic life, and the others need help to recognise and make peace with their actual reality?

Could it be - because they're male and therefore far more important than an anorexic girl, or any female? Male male male male male.

If a trans person can find relief from their gender dysphoria by permanently expressing themselves in an authentic manner then why should we expect them to accept medical intervention in order to get legal protection.

I don't expect them to.

I do expect to have legal protection myself not to be put at risk from people with penises who are able to rape me.

Third spaces, respect everyone.