To think that JK Rowling is being very unfairly treated.

[Impatiens]

For some people the name JK Rowling seems to have become a byword for 'bigot' or 'transphobe' - you only have to mention her name on twitter to cause a storm of accusations and abuse about her and I think it's really unjust.

This week it was announced that a new Harry Potter TV series is in development. Cue howls of outrage from certain people, repeating the same insults and even accusing her of being a bad influence on children. I feel so bad for her. She's always been someone who seemed to want to do good with her wealth and whose books (whether you like them or not) sent a positive message about the need to fight against evil.

A very brief recap of things Rowling has said about the trans debate that have caused anger -

1. Human biological sex can't be changed (females can't become males/vice versa) and no one should lose their job for saying that.

1. The word 'Woman' is being erased, particularly from important health messages that only affect females, and replaced with dehumanising terms like 'menstruators', 'cervix-havers' etc

1. Children/young people who have Gender Dysphoria/Identify as Transgender, shouldn't be given medication as part of any treatment because they're too young to understand the potential side effects.

YABU = JK Rowling's comments were offensive and she deserves the abuse she gets
YANBU = JK Rowling's comments were respectful opinions and she's entitled to voice them without getting abuse.

Yanbu at all. I agree with her 100% and think the way she's been treated is appalling.

There are people who say absolutely horrible things on Twitter and in Facebook. She is not one of them, but has been made a scapegoat.

YANBU.
There was nothing transphobic in what she said, and anyone who thinks there is needs to have a good hard look at themselves, and apply some critical thinking.

"Speaking the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act"

They are frustrated because they can't get her fired or beat her.

I couldn’t agree more OP.

You are preaching to the converted on here though, in fairness.

She’s been treated appallingly. They hate her because she won’t recant, she’s financially secure and she’s still astonishly successful. The level of pure woman hating vitriol directed at her was eye opening for many, I suspect.

Twitter is a vile hellhole these days, has to be said.

They hate her because she isn’t wrong and they love to scapegoat a brave woman who speaks up. And that’s the hill I’ll absolutely die on!

It is telling that most people who are insulting her haven't actually read what she has written - they just like to jump on the bandwagon of hate. Shame on them.

@TheKeatingFive

Twitter is a vile hellhole these days, has to be said.

It certainly was to me, I just couldn't believe the really sick insults that were tweeted at her - and that twitter didn't delete them!

I agree with her. She's only had the guts to say what plenty of people are thinking (and based on discussions I've had with others I know I'm not alone).

All she has done it write absolute sense. This has riled some people up no end. Who knows why.

Pro tip: avoid twitter.

Yep yanu I don't think she's been disrespectful or phobic at all. Standing up for women doesn't and should equate to an attack on the trans community.

God, I hope they do make it so that Grint et al become less associated with playing those roles. The twats.

“There comes a time when you have to choose between what is easy and what is right.”

And Jo Rowling is a Gryffindor.

Twitter is full of far lefties, and hopefully not representative of the population.

I really hope not anyway.

James Dreyfus got in trouble today on twitter by wearing a t shirt that said 'Man - Adult Human Male'

He's 'transphobic' and has been cancelled

At times like these I tend to find a daily mail article on the trans issue and read the comments to make sure there are some sane people around. THAT'S how INSANE this is

JK Rowling is awesome for standing up for women.

Even news outlets like The Guardian and NBC had articles this week about how involved JKR should be in any new Harry Potter series given her 'transphobic' views. fgs

YANBU. She’s done absolutely nothing wrong.

Lots of people (mainly men) get awfully upset when strong women don’t back down.

At times like these I tend to find a daily mail article on the trans issue and read the comments to make sure there are some sane people around. THAT'S how INSANE this is

Mad isn't it? I really just wanted to reassure myself that MN isn't full of the same crazy assumptions about her.

The Guardian is unfortunately run by misogynists and now unreadable. I was a reader for years & now avoid it, the final straw was a Blind Date column (virtual date as Covid) where they set up a female lesbian with a straight trans male. (and lied to the woman about the other person's sex). Horrific behaviour.

Perhaps useful to post what she actually said. Then if people disagree with her they can point out where.

www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

btw YANBU

I totally agreed with JKR’s essay, but some of the points above are a bit more nuanced.

Some children clearly identify as the opposite biological sex and live that way throughout their childhood and I think it may be appropriate to have puberty blockers in some cases, which are assessed critically and fully. There have always been a small number of children who I believe are truly transgender.

It’s very different from the 1,000s of adolescents suddenly feeling gender dysphoric when they don’t quite fit in because it is the current zeitgeist of teenage angst. And even more different from the older men whose autogynaephilia is threatening and sinister.

@BudgieHammockBananaSmuggler what did we did do before there were puberty blockers available?