Author fired for backing JK Rowling in row over trans rights

AN AUTHOR of best-selling children’s books has been sacked after backing JK Rowling in her controversial row over transgender rights.

Gillian Philip, who is one of a team of writers who pen stories for the Erin Hunter books, used #ISTANDWITHJKROWLING on her Twitter handle. She later received death threats, but tweeted: ‘Bring it on, homophobes and lesbian haters.’

Harry Potter author Miss Rowling, 54, pictured, was accused of being transphobic after a series of tweets last month. When Scottish writer Miss Philip, 56, showed her support on social media, her employer Working Partners received a stream of online attacks. HarperCollins, which publishes the Erin Hunter books, was also hit with complaints.

James Noble, of Working Partners, told the online critics: ‘The worlds created by Erin Hunter are meant to be inclusive for all readers and we want to let you know that Gillian Philip will no longer be writing any Erin Hunter novels.’

Miss Philip said: ‘I am disappointed that the hard work and professional attitude I have brought to my work for HarperCollins and for Working Partners counted for nothing in the face of an abusive mob of anonymous Twitter trolls.

‘It is concerning that my concerns about women’s legal rights and spaces have been presented as “transphobia”, and that this accusation has been allowed to stand by my former employers.’

Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, said anyone who challenges the view of activists ‘is immediately targeted for cancellation’.