Open Letter from Autors and Entertainers in Support of JKR

[Igneococcus]

In the Times:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d714149e-003d-11eb-a6ce-737681864bdd?shareToken=522b280f5312e063be007bba64a0e96d

Here is the letter (a few down the list):
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/2e240198-fe6a-11ea-a6ce-737681864bdd?shareToken=8bcca8afb981c27e32894e05e7776f41

And the signatories:

We wish JK Rowling well and stand in solidarity with her.
Ian McEwan, author; Lionel Shriver, author; Griff Rhys Jones, actor; Graham Linehan, writer; Maureen Chadwick, writer; Andrew Davies, writer; Frances Barber, actress; Craig Brown, writer; Alexander Armstrong, actor; Amanda Craig, writer; Philip Hensher, writer; Susan Hill, writer; Jane Thynne, writer; Ben Miller, actor; Simon Fanshawe, writer; James Dreyfus, actor; Frances Welch, writer; Francis Wheen, writer; Arthur Matthews, writer; Aminatta Forna, writer; Joan Smith, writer; Nick Cohen, journalist; Kath Gotts, composer & lyricist; Ann McManus, writer; Eileen Gallagher, writer & producer; Jimmy Mulville, producer; Lizzie Roper, actress; Stella O’Malley, author; Nina Paley, animator; Julie Bindel, journalist; Abigail Shrier, journalist; Rachel Rooney, author; Jane Harris, writer; Tatsuya Ishida, cartoonist; Lisa Marchiano, author; Zuby, musician and author; Debbie Hayton, journalist; Gillian Philip, Author, Jonny Best, musician; Manick Govinda, arts consultant; Russell Celyn Jones, writer; Magi Gibson, writer; Victoria Whitworth, writer; Dr Mez Packer, writer; Grace Carley, producer; Sam Leith, journalist; Malcolm Clark, television producer-director; Shirley Wishart, musician; Charlotte Delaney, writer; Nehanda Ferguson, musician; Justin Hill, writer; Trezza Azzopardi, writer; Birdy Rose, artist; Jess de Wahls, textile artist; Mo Lovatt, writer; Simon Edge, novelist; Tom Stoppard, playwright; and Amanda Smyth, writer

Craig Potter from Elbow

"I would put my name to this 100%

JK aint no bigot"

twitter.com/CraigLPotter/status/1310736457544478727?s=20

Now we can also sign it!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4037491-In-solidarity-with-JK-Rowling

[quote SunsetBeetch]Craig Potter from Elbow

"I would put my name to this 100%

JK aint no bigot"

twitter.com/CraigLPotter/status/1310736457544478727?s=20[/quote]
He’s a good egg. He’s understood for a long time.

signed and very much shared!!

Dan snow has signed it which made me happy

twitter.com/thehistoryguy/status/1311215793749864450?s=21

I'm so happy to see my name on there next to one of my absolute all-time heroines, in support of another of my all-time heroines! I feel almost heroic by association!

I’m not sure if everyone on here is aware of the ‘other’ letter going around. All the performative woke authors, editors, agents. There’s another thread on here but given it’s obviously in response to this letter, I thought I’d reference. I felt very happy and hopeful at the beginning of the week - thought the tide was turning - and now this. Just pathetic. People I know and like on there. 🤯

@SmallPug

I’m not sure if everyone on here is aware of the ‘other’ letter going around. All the performative woke authors, editors, agents. There’s another thread on here but given it’s obviously in response to this letter, I thought I’d reference. I felt very happy and hopeful at the beginning of the week - thought the tide was turning - and now this. Just pathetic. People I know and like on there. 🤯

I have no respect for anyone who defends the horrific abuse Rowling has endured. I feel sorry die this who felt they needed to sign this to stay relevant

Totally. Does anyone know why Joanne Harris is such a committed TRA? What is her agenda?

I'm not downheartened by that as I thought I'd be. There will be a LOT of angry men with lots of money and unseen influence and power moving hard against JK Rowling. I already suspected most famous people would want to say the opposite; they don't know whats going on and want to virtue signal - or do and don't care anyway, after all, this stuff rarely affects them.

Instead I am choosing to be encouraged to see John Cleese, Tony Robinson and some other names I'm fond of speaking up. And I'm still so grateful to Jo herself. Every day I still think the tide turns more and more.

@ArabellaScott

Is there a link to the call for people to sign? I'd like to share on Facebook. I know a LOT of writers and artists. Some will prob unfriend me, but I think a few will sign.

It’s been my experience that a lot of my female writer friends are the first and most eager to join in the witch burning.

Yes Wandawomble, it seems as though women are desperate to burn the witch.

Yes, Wanda, I know. From being very worries about losing friends over this, though, I've come to the place where if someone is going to 'unfriend' me for saying that a woman shouldn't get death threats, then I don't want to be friends with them anyway.

It’s been my experience that a lot of my female writer friends are the first and most eager to join in the witch burning.

This is my experience too. I still don't really understand why. They could just keep quiet - I know lots who just don't say anything. But those who are burning books and witches - I've come to suspect they are just really fucking stupid, actually. What else explains it? Although I suppose the other element is that the louder and more angry you are about 'trans rights!!!' on twitter, the more followers you get, and the higher your profile, so maybe for some it's just pure fuck you ambition.

Over 12,000 now. Please share to get it to 20,000 today.

On why female writers join the witch-burning, I think it's about trying to differentiate themselves from those nasty strident anti-men no-fun feminists and stay cool and sexy.

The reason some of these writers/publishers/editors have signed up is simple. In the world of publishing and, in particular, in the world of children's books, there is a huge amount of bitter envy for JKR and her success and her fortune. These people are only too pleased to turn against her. Sad little people.

I am a children's writer - agented but unpublished, and I wonder if the strident opinions relate to the fact that many agents and editors are fervently anti JKR. So if you're worried about being published and you don't give the issue much thought, you assume that somehow this is the right position. As to why you want to throw people under the bus whose opinions you don't share, that I don't understand.

Well, surprised to see some of my more TWAW leaning friends signing the petition, despite probably deeply disagreeing with JKR's views. That's good.

If we could just get to the point where 'death threats are not okay' as a baseline, I would be a bit happier.

Well with all due respect to "being kind" any position where people believe TWAW is not sustainable for the rights of women. If you look at the threads on here on what is happening in Ireland you will see that by accepting the inclusive BS that TWAW you end up with male bodied sex offenders housed in women's prisons. No, done with nice and kind. I have no time for anyone who accepts and participates in this ideological fallacy.

If we could just get to the point where 'death threats are not okay' as a baseline, I would be a bit happier

Yes.

Twitter allowed this and took no action.

Should EHRC and GEO provide clarity to platforms to stop death threats? but they can't even get guidance on the 2010 Equality Act right

Depends, doesn't it? If you're a woman death threats are to be expected. If you're one of the other protected characteristics, for example a transwoman, then you have the weight of the law behind you should anyone 'misgender' you. It's pretty clear.

"Be kind" would be fine if it worked both ways.

Insisting that your male body be accomodated where women are recovering from trauma is unkind.

Raping women in women is unkind.

Watching animals and children being raped is unkind. (Understatement of the century).

Riding roughshod over the rights of 51% of the human population is unkind.

Appropriating the very real pain and suffering of disabled people, homosexual people and ethnic minorities in order to end female rights is unkind.

Saying domestic violence is ok because women have "eggshell skulls" is unkind.

Telling GNC kids their bodies require mutilation is unkind.

You get the picture.

In *prison

@RuffleCrow

"Be kind" would be fine if it worked both ways.

Insisting that your male body be accomodated where women are recovering from trauma is unkind.

Raping women in women is unkind.

Watching animals and children being raped is unkind. (Understatement of the century).

Riding roughshod over the rights of 51% of the human population is unkind.

Appropriating the very real pain and suffering of disabled people, homosexual people and ethnic minorities in order to end female rights is unkind.

Saying domestic violence is ok because women have "eggshell skulls" is unkind.

Telling GNC kids their bodies require mutilation is unkind.

You get the picture.

👏

The cartoonist Tatsuya Ishida has joined the signatories and some of their followers are very disappointed in their support of JK. Although it suggests none of these people have ever paid attention to Tatsuya's cartoons as they are openly and brilliantly gender critical.

I particuarly love this one about certain Harry Potter actors.