GLAAD slams J.K. Rowling for 'inaccurate and cruel' transphobic comments: 'There is no excuse'
"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling is again under fire for comments about the transgender community.
Less than six months after the writer, 54, was slammed for showing support for Maya Forstater, a researcher who lost her job at a think tank for stating that people cannot change their biological sex, she made similar comments after criticizing a headline that included the phrase "people who menstruate" in an effort to be more inclusive.
"I’m sure there used to be a word for those people," Rowling tweeted Saturday. "Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"
After facing backlash, Rowling stood her ground, claiming her life "has been shaped by being female" and defended the exclusionary comments while arguing she still supports transgender people.
"I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives," she wrote in a series of tweets. "It isn’t hate to speak the truth ... I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so."
Mark Hutchinson, Rowling's representative, told USA TODAY she would not be commenting further.
GLAAD issued a response over Twitter, criticizing Rowling for "inaccurate and cruel" messaging, recommending that those who were frustrated by her comments donate to organizations that support black transgender people such as the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, the National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition and U.K. Black Pride.
"JK Rowling continues to align herself with an ideology which willfully distorts facts about gender identity and people who are trans," the statement read. "In 2020, there is no excuse for targeting trans people. We stand with trans youth, especially those Harry Potter fans hurt by her inaccurate and cruel tweets."
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Fans on social media met Rowling's comments with incredulity, wondering why the author seemingly made the comments out of her own volition while the rest of the world has been focusing on protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as Pride Month, a time meant to honor and celebrate members of the LGBTQ+ community.
"The fact that this is your priority right now, that you have a pathological need to keep harping on this – what a truly disappointing human you have turned out to be," writer Louis Peitzman replied. "The trans people you claim to love deserve better than you. Happy Pride Month, Jo!"
"I assure you, (trans people) do not love you back," added "Matilda" star Mara Wilson.
"Not all women menstruate and not all who menstruate are women," replied charity organization I Support The Girls. "There are many girls, non-binary (folks), trans boys, and trans men who also get a period. We recognize that language change can be uncomfortable."
"The Good Place" actress Jameela Jamil called on Rowling to donate to charities that support homeless black transgender women.
Munroe Bergdorf, the first transgender woman to model for L'Oreal in the U.K., called the state of the world "hard enough without YOU, a wealthy white woman, tweeting transphobia from your mansion."
"Do us all a favour and give it a rest," she added. "To say that you're a disappointment is an understatement."
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