JK trans storm: Vandals target handprint tribute
AN imprint of JK Rowl- ing’s hands has been daubed with blood-like bright red paint after she was accused of being transphobic.
Pictures have emerged showing the golden handprints in her home town of Edinburgh after they were vandalised – with the transgender pride flag planted next to them.
The impressions were made outside the City Chambers in the old town when Miss Rowling ( right) was presented with the Edinburgh Award in 2008.
The vandalism follows a series of rows between the Harry Potter author and the trans community. Miss Rowling, 54, who denies being transphobic, was targeted after mocking an online article using the words ‘people who menstruate’ instead of ‘women’. She spoke of her experience of sexual assault as a significant factor in her support for singlesex spaces and gave examples of where she thought demands by transgender activists were dangerous to women. She also recently wrote on Twitter: ‘Many health professionals are concerned that young people struggling with their mental health are being shunted towards hormones and surgery when this may not be in their best interests.’ Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as well as Fantastic Beasts actor Eddie Redmayne have hit back at her comments. Dr Jane Hamlin, president of the Beaumont Society, a charity supporting trans people, said although Miss Rowling’s comments were ‘hurtful’, the vandalism could be harmful.
‘Actions like this, whether or not they are the deeds of trans people or their allies, will damthreats age the campaign to win equal rights for trans and non-binary people,’ she told The Daily Telegraph. ‘I would prefer to demonstrate the fears she articulates are the invention of a successful writer of fiction.’
Last week, Miss Rowling was among 150 high-profile figures to sign an open letter warning of to free speech from public shaming. The writers, academics and activists said the ‘vogue is threatening liberal society’ and hit back at the current ‘intolerant climate’.
The signatories, including novelist Martin Amis, US intellectual Noam Chomsky and feminist Gloria Steinem, also called for an end to ‘cancel culture’.
Miss Rowling has endured weeks of backlash after her comments about transgender people. As well as the Harry Potter actors, two fan sites with more than one million followers have joined the criticism.
The Leaky Cauldron and Mugglene said they would no longer provide links to the author’s website, use photos of her or write about her outside her role as the author.
And a handful of staff at publishers Hachette involved in her new children’s book The Ickabog threatened to down tools.
‘Damage campaign to win equal rights’