J.K. Rowling Throws Support Behind Transphobe: 'Sex Is Real'
J.K. Rowling Throws Support Behind Transphobe: 'Sex Is Real'
"Well, she finally said the quiet part out loud."
JK Rowling has stepped in it again.
The Harry Potter author, who has taken to tweeting very infrequently over the past year, returned to Twitter to defend a woman who lost her job over transphobic comments in a high profile case.
“Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Leave your best life in peace and security,” Rowling tweeted. “But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotaDrill”
\u201cDress however you please.\nCall yourself whatever you like.\nSleep with any consenting adult who\u2019ll have you. \nLive your best life in peace and security. \nBut force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? \n#IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1576760256
A tax expert, Maya Forstater was working as a visiting fellow at the Centre for Global Development when she insisted on Twitter that “men cannot change into women,” among other transphobic tweets specifically in opposition to a government proposal that would allow trans people to self-identify. Her contract with the CGD was later not renewed.
After Forstater challenged the decision in an employment tribunal, Judge James Tayler ruled on Wednesday that the CGD was within its rights to not renew her contract. He stated that he believes Forstater “is absolutist in her view of sex and it is a core component of her belief that she will refer to a person by the sex and it is a core component of her belief that she will refer to a person by the sex she considered appropriate even if it violates their dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.”
Rowling joined other transphobes in coming to Forstater’s defense under the guise of the decision being used to silence women. The author has a long history of quietly liking tweets by TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) on Twitter, so it unfortunately didn’t come as much of a surprise. But that didn’t stop fans from tweeting their disappointment, as well as to correct her on her ignorant take.
\u201c@jk_rowling In fact, the World Health Organization--among countless other medical authorities--validate trans people in their authentic gender identity. \n\nIt is quite clear you don't understand the first thing about the trans community or the science at play. \n\nThis is heartbreaking.\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1576760256
None— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1576760256
\u201cJack\u2019s voice is the one we should be listening to in the Harry Potter community right now. Thread:\u201d— Melissa Anelli (@Melissa Anelli) 1576768250
\u201c@jk_rowling When I was little, my dream was to one day ask you how people like me would have been accomodated for in hogwarts..\nI'm afraid that my dreams might have been crushed if I ever got that chance.\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1576760256
\u201c@jk_rowling How do you think it would feel for someone trans to have to go to work every day with someone they know perfectly well hates them or disrespects who they are at such a basic level? That is the definition of creating a hostile work environment\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1576760256
\u201c@jk_rowling My daughter, who is trans, is a big fan of yours. It breaks my heart to see you post something indicating that discrimination against her is perfectly fine behaviour for an employee.\n\nThe world\u2019s most credible medical orgs affirm trans people. Please catch up.\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1576760256
\u201c@jk_rowling "Trans rights are human rights" Emma Watson \ud83d\udcaa\u201d— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1576760256
Rowling has yet to comment any further.
