To ask about JK Rowling - can someone tell me what happened?

[christmaspigeon]

Just that really. I like her. I like how she gives so much for charity and how she put Trump in his place, but I know people's views on her have changed. Something to do with trans comments?? Can someone explain (in really simple language!) what happened? Thank you!

Is your google broken?

Someone can probably explain it better than me..
but basically.. she supports women being women and not transwomen calling themselves actual women.
Damn someone will probably call me out on this ..not the best explanation.
Someone with a penis shouldn't call themselves a woman, in her view.

She refused to capitulate to bullies.

www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/ have a read, it's an excellent piece of writing.

She stood up for women.

Bait.

In short, she’s got concerns over how the self-ID ‘trans rights’ lobby are affecting women and girls rights. Her own statement is on her website. Start there, then come back to the FWR boards if you’d like to discuss what she said.

Read her statement on her website. Her position is clearly stated on there and then you can decide if you agree with her or not

@Bixs nope! Actual ignorance. I'm really late to the party on this one. Overheard friends saying they hate her because of something to do with trans and not knowing what to say (I kept my mouth shut that time but am not sure what to think)

[quote christmaspigeon]@Bixs nope! Actual ignorance. I'm really late to the party on this one. Overheard friends saying they hate her because of something to do with trans and not knowing what to say (I kept my mouth shut that time but am not sure what to think)[/quote]
So why not do some research then?

You have the internet at your fingertips.

she dared to support women's rights

can't believe you can't goole the answer really - almost like you are inoccently trying to cause a shit fest

Wow! I didn't realise it was such a contentious topic! I was just hoping for a very simple explanation and a couple of views rather than having to trawl the internet and filter bias etc. Thanks for the link though @laPufalina - I read it. It was much more information than I was after but at least I understand a bit more. However I think this thread has just proved that if this ever comes up in conversation again I need to just keep my mouth firmly closed!

She’s made a series of transphobic comments. There are other things too (using the name of a pioneer of gay conversion therapy as her pen name, racial insensitivity in some parts of the Harry Potter series, vocal support for Johnny Depp after it emerged that he had assaulted his wife, retconning diversity into Harry Potter for credit) but the most prominent criticism is the transphobia.

Thanks @alltoomuchrightnow - that was the sort of explanation I was hoping for! (Hastily backing away from this thread now! )

Or you could ask the person speaking what she actually wrote that was transphobic? As from what I have read no one ever answers that. Probably because there is no evidence that they can provide.

@Gardeniaofdelights

She’s made a series of transphobic comments. There are other things too (using the name of a pioneer of gay conversion therapy as her pen name, racial insensitivity in some parts of the Harry Potter series, vocal support for Johnny Depp after it emerged that he had assaulted his wife, retconning diversity into Harry Potter for credit) but the most prominent criticism is the transphobia.

Can you quote an actual thing she's said that's transphobic?

@ Gardeniaofdelights please can you link to the transphobic comments?

Thanks @Gardeniaofdelights - a useful summary that gives me some idea of the arguments.

@HavelockVetinari I very much doubt they can.

That ‘summary’ is a load of waffle without a shred of evidence to back it up.

@christmaspigeon You don’t want to filter bias so you thought you’d ask on Mumsnet instead?! Yes we are well famous for our non biased options on here!

*She’s made a series of transphobic comments.

You realise you can't post this without backing it up with evidence of specifics don't you? We're waiting

OP, why don't you just read the essay linked and come to your own conclusions?

Basically it seems that people who haven't read what she wrote think she said something transphobic. I've read her essay and her tweets and I can't see it. She stands up for women's sex-based rights and thereby breaches the new trans-orthodoxy. That is not the same as being transphobic.