J K Rowling engulfed by transgender rights storm
Writer backs woman who lost tribunal after saying people can’t change sex – and web hate mob erupts
JK ROWLING faced the biggest backlash of her career yesterday after she criticised the trans rights lobby.
The author tweeted her incredulity at a court ruling seen as a defeat for feminists who have questioned transgender issues.
She had spoken out to support Maya Forstater, who was told by a judge her view that transgender people cannot change their sex was ‘not worthy of respect’. The Harry Potter author was immediately hit with a tirade of abuse from hardline trans campaigners. They labelled her a ‘bigot’ and a ‘transphobe’ and even claimed she was ‘in favour of hate speech’.
Others posted comments telling her to ‘Shut the f*** up, TERF’, a reference to the phrase ‘trans exclusionary radical feminist’ which is used in a derogatory way by some trans campaigners.
Miss Rowling also attracted hundreds of supportive comments and her tweet had been ‘liked’ 82,000 times by last night.
Miss Forstater, 45, lost her job as a tax expert at think-tank the Centre for Global Development in March after colleagues complained over remarks on her Twitter account questioning government plans to let people declare their own gender.
At an employment tribunal, judge James Tayler said her views that there are only two biological sexes and it is not possible to change between them were ‘likely to be profoundly distressing’ to trans people and ‘may be unlawful harassment’.
In response, Miss Rowling tweeted: ‘Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?’
It was the first time Miss Rowling
‘Incompatible with human dignity’
had overtly stated her support for feminists who do not recognise trans women as genuinely female. The tweet will prompt speculation the author, who is worth more than £750million, might donate money to Miss Forstater’s legal fighting fund.
Miss Forstater had brought a case to the central London tribunal, claiming she had suffered discrimination for her beliefs and due to her sex.
In her witness statement she said: ‘I believe that being male or female is an immutable biological fact, not a feeling or an identity.
‘I believe that a person’s sex should not be conflated with the idea of “gender”, “gender identities” or “gender expression”.’
Her legal team had argued her views were a ‘ philosophical belief’ protected under the 2010 Equality Act, under which it is illegal to discriminate against employees over such beliefs.
But Judge Tayler said Miss Forstater’s views were ‘not worthy of respect in a democratic society’.
‘She will not accept in any circumstances that a trans woman is in reality a woman or that a trans man is a man,’ the judge added.
He also ruled against the arguments by her legal team, concluding: ‘The view held by the claimant... does not have the protected characteristic of philosophical belief.’
In response Miss Forstater said in a statement: ‘I struggle to express the shock and disbelief I feel at reading this judgment, which I think will be shared by the vast majority of people who are familiar with my case.
‘My belief as I set out in my witness statement is that sex is a biological fact, and is immutable.
‘This judgment removes women’s rights and the right to freedom of belief and speech.
‘I will consider the judgment closely with my legal team to determine what can be done to challenge it.’
Miss Forstater worked for the CGD under a number of consultant roles from 2015 until 2018. In 2016 she was invited to become a visiting fellow of the think-tank, which is based in London and Washington DC.
Her solicitor Peter Daly, of Slater and Gordon, said: ‘The significance of this judgment should not be downplayed. Had our client been successful, she would have established in law protection for people, on any side of this debate, to express their beliefs
‘This could be a turning point’
without fear of being discriminated against.’ A full hearing on her discrimination claim is due next year.
Kate Harris, co-founder of the LGB Alliance which is calling for a debate on trans issues, said: ‘JK Rowling’s decision to intervene is earth-shattering. I’m very pleased she has spoken out because she will be listened to. This could be a turning point.’
A Stonewall spokesman said: ‘This case was about the importance of dignity and respect in the workplace. Trans people are facing huge levels of abuse and discrimination with one in eight having been attacked while at work in the last year.’
TV presenter Jameela Jamil accused Miss Rowling of contributing to the ‘erasure, abuse and suffering’ of trans people, and pleaded with her to instead ‘wield your immense power to protect those most at risk’.