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

Good to see Zuby has signed. I just hope people appreciate the sacrifice he could be making - this could mean his weightlifting records are taken away from him.

Oh dear, all the students that will now have to boycott Pointless.

That made me laugh

In other news I've been barred from twitter again, apparently saying men commit more violent crime than women is hate speech.

I love Pointless. They have had several transwomen contestants on, both celebrity and non, and both Alexander and Richard have been unfailingly warm, welcoming and accepting. They are in no way transphobic or judgemental. Hearts in eyes for Alexander and Ben, "It's all kicking off!"

Really excellent news. This is one of the things we need, for people with a profile to start speaking up. Trans allies have had not just the predominant voice, but practically the only voice when it comes to slebs being public about their views on this issue: I’m hoping this is the beginning of there being another voice in the room.

And it would be really good to see a significant number of well known actors/writers/musicians/artists etc who are not in the 50+ age bracket start to speak up. I think there are only a few of those brave souls on this list?

What a week, though!

@sashh

Oh dear, all the students that will now have to boycott Pointless.

That made me laugh

In other news I've been barred from twitter again, apparently saying men commit more violent crime than women is hate speech.

Oh good grief. Sharing provable facts is now hate speech?

@Igneococcus

Alexander Armstrong is so much on TV including hosting HIGNFY frequently, that is a great name to have there.

This was the name I got giddiest about when I was just talking about it with DH.

It's just SO good to see so many big names join her.

Oh god, Armstrong and Miller and the DandyLion Café and the DandyLion Sex Shop. So funny. They dress as women, you know, but they're men.

I never see a rep of stonewall on the tv or radio. Has a anyone, ever, been able to publicly question them?

Of course not, they thought they were being smart with their NoDebate 'slogan'. Instead, they have now 'lost' self ID and it serves them right. I wonder if anyone in that organisation will admit to their huge mistakes or just blame their defeat on the Conservatives?

@xxyzz

Very glad to see the debate being focused back where it should always have been focused, on misogyny.

Trans rights were never the issue, the attack on women's (and children's) rights were always the central issue and trans issues just used by MRAs as a Trojan horse to make their misogyny not just socially acceptable but literally undebateable.

We need to absolutely stop being on the defensive on trans issues.

We need to be on the ATTACK against misogyny. Which is what it is. Which is all it is.

Same old, same old misogyny. New pink frilly wrapper. Same old misogyny.

so so true. Excellent post.

Armstrong and Miller?

As if my week wasn't already stellar. Delighted.

It's great to see all these celebs jumping on the bandwagon now the tide has turned, but where were they when JK and others were being vilified and threatened?

@NotBadConsidering

Great to see, but even the Times gets it wrong:

Troubled Blood, Rowling’s latest Cormoran Strike detective novel published on September 15 under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, featured a male murderer with a fetish for women’s clothing.

He possibly used women’s clothing in a failed abduction and it’s alluded to as an MO to deceive witnesses, and kept souvenirs of his victims. There is no “fetish for women’s clothing”.

This...he sometimes wore a womans coat and wig and his landlady thought him 'a bit camp'.

Hardly a rampaging diatribe against the trans community.

And another

... And Anthony Horowitz just tweeted saying he thought he'd signed it.

@teawamutu

... And Anthony Horowitz just tweeted saying he thought he'd signed it.

Brilliant! Delighted to hear that.

Tony Robinson just tweeted in support as well.

twitter.com/Tony_Robinson/status/1310266570850041856?s=19

Baldrick is my favourite one so far ❤️

Miriam O'Reilly twitter.com/OReillyMiriam/status/1310300427175505926?s=19

@teawamutu

... And Anthony Horowitz just tweeted saying he thought he'd signed it.

twitter.com/AnthonyHorowitz/status/1310274345009385472?s=20

I do understand what people are saying about these people only speaking up now, but I'm sorry I still find it touching and a much-needed morale boost. And I hope JKR does too.

I don't need to laud their bravery. I know plenty of women personally whom I can do that for.

But I will be tremendously grateful that they are now speaking up - as we have been begging them to do for a very long time. I will not be churlish and scorn them finally stepping up. I won't pretend they're trailblazing either, but I will say 'Thank you, that wasn't so hard, was it? Please get stuck in now.'

It’s good to see more people coming out In support even after the letter.

Stephen King is craven

This is lovely. I am pleased to see Alexander Armstrong on the list. I like him and he is a big name.

To be fair lots of the people on the list has spoken up many of them at great cost. Birdie Rose has had a lot of abuse. Stella O’Mally spoke up before JKR there are a lot of familiar names on that list who I have seen supporting her.