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.

i havnt read any Harry Potter btw i think how much people loved those books is also influencing what they think, but my kids go to the school which changed its house name from Rowling to Blackman after her second foray on to this area. i wrote to the Head about cancellation culture and lack of rigorous accademic debate.

@Flaunch

She’s a wonderful human being and spoke nothing but the truth.

This in buckets.

YANBU. She is incredible and I am so very grateful to her for speaking the truth in these strange times where speaking the truth and asking questions on many levels about many subjects can actually feel like a dangerous business.

So those who don't support JKR can boycott her products and those that feel the same as her can keep going as they are. Don't see the problem personally, to each their own. Just as some people will boycott J Star makeup, Nestle or Israeli goods.

Personally I never thought much of her and the whole trans debacle just cemented that.

@birthingball

YABU, she has wrote some disgusting things and has advertised merchandise such as badges that say 'F* your pronouns' and 'Notorious Transphobe'

Please quote the disgusting things has she written or retract that claim.

Those badges are funny/ironic - nothing wrong with them.

@Stovetopespresso

i havnt read any Harry Potter btw i think how much people loved those books is also influencing what they think, but my kids go to the school which changed its house name from Rowling to Blackman after her second foray on to this area. i wrote to the Head about cancellation culture and lack of rigorous accademic debate.

Good for you Stove, that was gutsy given how toxic the (non) debate is!

YABU, she has wrote some disgusting things and has advertised merchandise such as badges that say 'F your pronouns' and 'Notorious Transphobe'*

What are the 'disgusting things' did she write?

And no she didn't advertise that merchandise - she linked to a T-shirt which said 'this witch cannot be burned' and the website had some other things on it. So what? Etsy sells badges saying 'punch a TERF' accompanied by violent imagery, are you complaining about that?

Personally I never thought much of her and the whole trans debacle just cemented that.

Can you explain what it is about the 'trans debacle' that cements your low opinion of her? Do you think she shouldn't have said anything? Or said things differently?

So badges

People calling her transphobe is fine , her calling herself transohobe bad ?

One rule for us And another for her?

@birthingball

YABU, she has wrote some disgusting things and has advertised merchandise such as badges that say 'F* your pronouns' and 'Notorious Transphobe'

What disgusting things did she write?

Yes, I think some people missed the irony of the 'Notorious Transphobe' badges!

Did she wrote Toads, get it right

@LAgeDeRaisin

Did she wrote Toads, get it right

@Impatiens

Personally I never thought much of her and the whole trans debacle just cemented that.

Can you explain what it is about the 'trans debacle' that cements your low opinion of her? Do you think she shouldn't have said anything? Or said things differently?

I flat out don't agree with her opinions on trans people. It's that simple. I read her website post etc when that story blew up. It was well written but as someone who is very against the standard MN view of trans people, it's not something I want to support.

Now, I was never one of those kids who hugely identified with Harry Potter - hated the books actually - so her having these views doesn't really bother me. I would be avoiding her work anyway because I don't enjoy it. But I know she was an icon for many who felt rejected or different.

What specific opinion do you not agree with !?

YANBU she's had a hell of a time and she doesn't deserve it.

She's simply stated the truth and been bullied and vilified for it.

@SionnachRua that's fine obviously - no one has to like her books or anything about her actually, it's the targeting for abuse and the slurring of her name as almost an alternative word for 'bigot' that I can't stand.

Can you be more specific about her opinions on trans ppl that you don't agree with? Do you disagree that people can't change sex?

@Flaunch

She’s a wonderful human being and spoke nothing but the truth.

Took the words out of my mouth. She's a legend.

I don't agree that she deserved online abuse/bullying, but I think expressing transphobic views on a public platform was always going to bring negative attention her way and she surely expected it. She said some wise words on different issues over the years but her views on trans women have certainly changed my view of her.

She has said some things that are ill-advised, like regurgitating the line that X% of 'trans' kids desist from that behaviour (when it's about 'gender non conforming, not trans), but she is not a bigot, or hate-filled and I do find it ridiculous when I see people saying things like 'Haha! JK Rowling would hate this because she wants trans people to fail/die!' when she has stated quite clearly she feels no such thing and clearly has no animosity toward trans women at all.

It's only gender none confirming once they desist

Before that they are trans

@Crumpledandcreased

I don't agree that she deserved online abuse/bullying, but I think expressing transphobic views on a public platform was always going to bring negative attention her way and she surely expected it. She said some wise words on different issues over the years but her views on trans women have certainly changed my view of her.

Which of her views are transphobic?

If it's transphobic to sex isn't gender then she is not ill advised to say it . It is ill advised to suggest otherwise

@Echobelly

She has said some things that are ill-advised, like regurgitating the line that X% of 'trans' kids desist from that behaviour (when it's about 'gender non conforming, not trans), but she is not a bigot, or hate-filled and I do find it ridiculous when I see people saying things like 'Haha! JK Rowling would hate this because she wants trans people to fail/die!' when she has stated quite clearly she feels no such thing and clearly has no animosity toward trans women at all.

What is the difference between being gender non conforming and being trans?

She said some wise words on different issues over the years but her views on trans women have certainly changed my view of her.

Which views are those? The ones where she said she was happy for people to dress however they want and live their best life in peace and security?