Authors quit Rowling agency in dispute over trans rights
Four writers walk out after Blair Partnership refuses to ‘re-educate’ its staff on transgender awareness
FOUR authors represented by JK Rowling’s literary agency have quit in protest after the firm declined to issue a statement in support of transgender rights.
Rowling is at the centre of a storm over her comments on trans issues and gender identity. She has received a deluge of abuse online, prompting her to disclose this month that she felt so strongly about women’s rights because she had survived domestic abuse and sexual assault.
The Harry Potter author is represented by the Blair Partnership. Yesterday three authors – Fox Fisher, Drew Davies and Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir – announced via The Guardian that they could no longer work with the firm. A fourth writer has quit but wished to remain anonymous.
The Blair Partnership said it had declined to “meet their demands to be reeducated to their point of view”.
Jónsdóttir, also known as Owl Fisher, and Fox Fisher are partners and non-binary trans activists who co-wrote the Trans Teen Survival Guide. They called Davies “an incredible trans ally”.
In a statement, the trio said: “This decision is not made lightly, and we are saddened and disappointed it has come to this. After JK Rowling’s public comments on transgender issues, we reached out to the agency with an invitation to reaffirm their stance to transgender rights and equality.
“After our talks with them, we felt that they were unable to commit to any action that we thought was appropriate and meaningful. Freedom of speech can only be upheld if the structural inequalities that hinder equal opportunities for under-represented groups are challenged and changed.
“Affirmations to support LGBTQIA people as a whole need to be followed up by meaningful and impactful action, both internally and publicly. As LGBTQIA writers ourselves we feel strongly about having an agency that supports our rights at all avenues, and does not endorse views that go against our values and principles.”
They said that they had taken a stand as an act of solidarity. “Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid. This is a particularly difficult time when it must sometimes feel like the world is closing in on you. We want you to know that you are not alone, that there are many people who will always stand by you and fight for you and that better times are coming.”
The authors said they were making a collective donation to a charity that supports BAME women in Scotland who have experienced domestic abuse.
According to The Guardian, Jónsdóttir suggested the literary agency should conduct staff training with the group All About Trans but “these requests weren’t met positively by the management”.
A spokesman for the Blair Partnership said: “We support the rights of all our clients to express their thoughts and beliefs, and we believe in freedom of speech... We are disappointed by the decision that four clients have taken to part ways with the agency... these clients have decided to leave because we did not meet their demands to be reeducated to their point of view.
“We respect their right to pursue what they feel is the correct course of action.”
Earlier this month, it was reported that several staff at Hachette UK, Rowl- ing’s publisher, had threatened to stop work on her new children’s book, The Ickabog, over her stance on trans issues.