J.K. Rowling Doubles Down On Transphobic Comments In Lengthy Essay

Following backlash from transphobic tweets, Rowling published a lengthy essay on her personal website attempting to justify her views.

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ā€œHarry Potterā€ author J.K. Rowling doubled down on her recent transphobic comments in a lengthy essay detailing her fear of "trans activism" and what she describes as dangers of trans-friendly policies. Meanwhile, multiple ā€œHarry Potterā€ movie stars have spoken out against Rowling's comments and emphasized their support of transgender people. 

Rowling first tweeted on Saturday, mocking an op-ed headline that read, "Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate."

Rowling critiqued the language chosen, drawing further backlash with a follow-up tweet.

Following criticism over the transphobic tweets, Rowling published a lengthy essay on her personal website Wednesday in an apparent attempt to justify her views. In the essay, Rowling lists reasons why sheā€™s worried about ā€œthe new trans activism.ā€ Citing the work of several physicians and psychologists, she links an individualā€™s decision to transition with gender dysmorphia ā€“ an idea that many public health experts and LGBTQ+ activists say can make trans people feel their identities are invalidated by claims that they are ā€œmentally ill.ā€

ā€œThe more of their accounts of gender dysphoria Iā€™ve read, with their insightful descriptions of anxiety, dissociation, eating disorders, self-harm and self-hatred, the more Iā€™ve wondered whether, if Iā€™d been born 30 years later, I too might have tried to transition,ā€ she wrote. ā€œThe allure of escaping womanhood would have been huge. I struggled with severe OCD as a teenager. If Iā€™d found community and sympathy online that I couldnā€™t find in my immediate environment, I believe I could have been persuaded to turn myself into the son my father had openly said heā€™d have preferred.ā€

Rowling also implied that trans-positive policies, such as allowing transgender people to use their preferred bathroom, could lead to assault. She wrote that, as a survivor of sexual assault, she believes ā€œthe majority of trans-identified people not only pose zero threat to othersā€ and that, ā€œTrans people need and deserve protection.ā€

But in the following paragraph, she wrote, ā€œAt the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels heā€™s a woman ā€“ and, as Iā€™ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones ā€“ then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside.ā€

As with Rowlingā€™s Saturday tweets, many called out her essay as being bigoted and transphobic, as well as ill-timed while the world is focusing on the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Stars from the ā€œHarry Potterā€ and ā€œFantastic Beasts And Where To Find Themā€ movies have also spoken out against Rowling's comments and emphasized their support of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Daniel Radcliffe wrote a compassionate statement released on Monday by The Trevor Project, an organization that is dedicated to suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LBGTQ+ youth.

Emma Watson and Eddie Redmayne also spoke out on Wednesday in support of transgender people after Rowlingā€™s latest slew of comments. Watson wrote: ā€œTrans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they arenā€™t who they say they are.ā€

This isnā€™t the first time Rowling has faced blowback for anti-trans comments. In December 2019, she tweeted her support for Maya Forstater, a woman who was fired for expressing anti-trans sentiments.