Last night, Sunday 28th June, Harry Potter author JK Rowling launched into yet another transphobic Twitter spree. She was apparently spurred on to make these comments following Labour MP Lloyd Russel-Moyle, who said that Rowling had used her experience of domestic abuse to justify her transphobia; something that is completely true.
In her Twitter thread Rowling quoted author Andrea Dworkin, an American feminist. She used the quote 'Men often react to women's words - speaking and writing - as if they were acts of violence; sometimes men react to women's words with violence'. She appeared to be trying to use this quote as a way of saying that trans women who are angry about her transphobia are actually violent men. It' also strange that she would quote Dworkin, a feminist who was an open ally to trans people and supported trans inclusion.
Author Stephen King retweeted this tweet, part of a larger transphobic rant.
This retweet resulted in Rowling making a separate post praising King, and sharing her love for the author, claiming that her respect for him had reached 'new heights'.
She wrote, 'I've always revered @StephenKing, but today my love reached - maybe not Annie Wilkes levels - but new heights. It's so much easier for men to ignore women's concerns or to belittle them, but I won't ever forget the men who stood up when they didn't need to. Thanks you, Stephen.'
King's retweet was quickly noticed by his fans and the public, and concerns were voiced that King might be echoing views similar to Rowling. One of his followers asked him to clarify his position on trans issues, and he responded by saying 'Yes. Trans women are women.'
Whilst this was a relief to many people, and showed that Stephen King supports the trans community, not everyone was happy with his response. JK Rowling, however, was less than pleased that King held a view that differed to hers. Her tweet praising him was quickly removed from her timeline, and it appears that she no longer follows King on Twitter.
There are still many people who are claiming that Rowling is not transphobic, that somehow all of her tweets and her 3,000 word essay on why trans people are a threat are just her showing concerns for women's safety. Whilst this has been disproved by numerous breakdowns of her claims by some very intelligent and well informed people, I don't see how this incident could be interpreted as anything but open hostility.
Rowling has clearly demonstrated that all it takes to lose her 'love' and support is stating 'trans women are women'. If such a small, basic show of support for trans people can result in her deleting praise for you and removing you from her follows it shows that all she cares about is her hatred about trans people.
The mountains of evidence that trans women are not a threat to cis women appear to mean nothing to Rowling. She has been presented with rebuttals and counter arguments show she's using false science, and fake evidence, but has not changed her views. She has been offered literature that could help better inform her opinions, but sees these as attacks against her (like the Bodyshop tweet that resulted in TERFs boycotting the company). JK Rowling doesn't have time for any opinion on this matter that doesn't stand on her side, on the side of hate.
I feel sad for the fans of her work. Many were drawn to the inclusive tone of her characters and stories. It feel like a betrayal, I am sure. And Go Stephen King.
ReplyDeleteIt's hate to use
ReplyDeletenotoriety to pass judgement on an entire culture of people. Her bias puts trans lives at stake. They have enough to worry about without someone like her going public with their hateful views. If she really knew and loved people who are trans like she says she does, she would not be so viscously public with her prejudice. Their blood is on her hands. 🤬