J.K. Rowling introduced us to the magical world of Harry Potter — and in the process, caused a generation of children (and adults!) fall in love with her memorable characters. An overarching theme in her stories at Hogwarts and beyond is peace and equality among muggles, “pure-blooded” wizards, and everyone in between.
Since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was published in 2007, Rowling has offered more insight into her beloved characters via social media. She has also shared with fans the changes she would have made to the story, in hindsight. The author hasn’t held back her opinions when it comes to politics, either — a move that has generally resulted in fans loving her even more.
J.K. Rowling is probably one of the last people you’d think would be labeled as trans phobic — and yet here we are. Let’s take a closer look at the Harry Potter author’s anti-trans tweets that have shocked and disgusted her followers.
It all started in December 2019 with a tweet people labeled as transphobic.
On Dec. 19, Rowling tweeted support for Maya Forstater, a British woman who was fired from her job as a researcher at the Centre for Global Development because she had tweeted about not believing people could change their biological sex.
“Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?”
Dress however you please.
Call yourself whatever you like.
Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.
Live your best life in peace and security.
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019
J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans tweets popped up again — and during Pride month.
On June 6, Rowling took to Twitter, seemingly out of the blue, to share her thoughts about people who are transgender. She shared a Devex article that touched upon the “menstrual health and hygiene needs of girls, women, and all people who menstruate.”
“‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” she tweeted.
‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?
Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate https://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
The backlash was immediate — but the Harry Potter author continued her train of thought in a series of tweets.
“I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them,” she wrote. “I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so
I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
In yet another tweet, Rowling continued to defend her stance, writing, “The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women – ie, to male violence – ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences – is a nonsense.”
She continued, “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”
