The “Harry Potter” author slammed a newly enacted hate-crime law in Scotland in a series of posts on X in which she referred to transgender women as men.
J.K. Rowling shared a social media thread on Monday, the day a new Scottish hate-crime law took effect, that misgendered several transgender women and appeared to imply trans women have a penchant for sexual predation. On Tuesday, Scottish police announced they would not be investigating the “Harry Potter” author’s remarks as a crime, as some of Rowling’s critics had called for.
“We have received complaints in relation to the social media post,” a spokesperson for Police Scotland said in a statement. “The comments are not assessed to be criminal and no further action will be taken.”
Scotland’s new Hate Crime and Public Order Act criminalizes “stirring up hatred” against people based on their race, religion, disability, sexuality or gender identity.
This is literally not news. It’s literally not something happening.
Arrest her anyway, call it the Rowling challenge.
This TERF needs to just accept that she’s not relevant anymore. She is just a washed up, miserable person and not even her bottomless wallet can bring her happiness.
You say this yet people keep throwing money at her. Studios and HP fans alike.
She is still unfortunately relevant to a huge swath of people
That’s why I sail the seven sees, especially if it’s about content she might get royalties from.
But also, there hasn’t been anything good since the first fantastic beasts movie…
Also also, I made harry potter themed fuck JK pins, so a few lgbtq friends of mine could still wear their hp merch without endorsing her.
“I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
This whole law is absurd and draconian.
I strongly disagree. some opinions are literally harmful to express. the narrative that trans women are dangerous, predators, or not really their gender, is hate speech. it is statistically linked to increased violence against trans people, especially when coming from someone with a huge platform. it’s unclear whether Rowling actively intends to cause harm, but she has been associating with literal Nazis lately. we should respect each other’s opinions, sure, but when people hold exclusionary opinions, we have to decide whether their right to spout hatred is more important than trans people’s right to safety, comfort, and wellbeing. I choose the wellbeing of the trans community over Rowling’s right to bigotry.
“we have to decide whether their right to spout hatred is more important than trans people’s right to safety, comfort, and wellbeing.”
In no uncertain terms, it is imperative that we do not allow any governing body to decide what we can and can not say. What is and isn’t dangerous, what is and isn’t hate, can not and should not be legislated, or we will be robbed of our voices lest dissent be considered dangerous, or hatred. It won’t be long until calling the police “pig” is a hate crime and criticizing your leaders sedition.
Shun them, malign them, discredit, and mock them publicly, but I can never see the good in giving the government the ability to punish someone for their speech, no matter how vehemently it goes against modern paradigm.
so you suggest completely deregulating hate speech, then? how about direct incitement of violence? how about slander and defamation?
there are many restrictions on “freedom of speech” already, and it’s not like anyone is complaining that people calling in bomb threats shouldn’t get arrested. there NEED to be restrictions on speech. imagine if advertisers could just lie with no repercussions, or if you could state your intent to kill someone and it would be illegal to arrest you until you actually do it.
calling a policeman a pig is not hate speech. it is hateful, but there’s a big difference between calling a cop a pig and misgendering or using slurs against trans people.
minority groups are especially vulnerable to hate speech and there are already laws in place to protect them from certain kinds of speech. this is especially true with trans people, as we have seen their suicide rate linked very clearly with the presence of hate and absence of support.
we can say “the repercussions must only be social” but that leaves it up to the people to enforce it. what about minorities living surrounded by people who don’t support them? are they supposed to just grin and bear it? for a trans person, this could easily and quickly drive them to suicide.
I will never advocate that simple (especially accidental) misgendering should be grounds for arresting somebody. but these acts, when done intentionally, actively spread hate, misinformation, and tangible harm which touches the lives of trans people. this is why we must choose which is more important: the lives and safety of these trans people, or the comfort and “freedom” of people who want to see them eradicated. your freedom ends where it would violate another person’s freedom or basic rights.
this choice has been made on many other matters, which I touched on before. we have repeatedly found that certain kinds of speech are harmful enough to warrant legal repercussions. refusing to regulate this kind of hate speech just takes the side of the oppressor; it means trans people have no recourse and it becomes easy to spread massive misinformation campaigns (as Republicans are currently doing) which directly leads to people dying (dozens of anti trans laws have been passed in dozens of states, and those states have extremely high trans suicide rates).
why do we need to respect the opinion of someone whose opinion is “trans people should die or go to jail”?
The tweet makes it plainly obvious where she stands regarding trans people. Disgusting.
Im ashamed to admit that I thought the previous allegations against her were wrong and only based on maliciously misinterpreted tweets.
Yeah me too. She’s become what they said she was it seems.
Yeah, two years ago I was kinda not sure what the issue was not actually following the thing too closely. Then I watched Shaun’s video essay on YouTube, discussed with some trans friends about the issue and started checking her twitter.
She literally only tweets about trans people all day every day and often insinuates they are rapists/pedo etc.
She’s crazy.
The sad thing is, I believe she didn’t start in such an extreme position. If you read her work she clearly understands the benefits of diversity and inclusion.
Cancel culture pushes people with one bad take in to extremist communities that foster and feed the ugliest parts of a person. By barring them from any community that might actually try to challenge their opinions and foster compassion, we essentially create martyrs that are exalted in extremist communities. All the while, we act like we defeated them and stick our heads in the sand. Like they’re not still voting in every election. Like they’re not still out there spewing darker and darker bullshit to an audience that eats it up and to the next batch of people we “cancel”.
If you disagree with someone, however painful it may be, treat them with basic respect and talk to them. You won’t change their mind, but you might plant the seed that will. It’s the only way out of this mess.
It’s not “cancel culture”: it’s calling out their horrific beliefs. If gettings called out on having horrible thoughts leads you to becoming more extreme in those thoughts then you’re just a bad person.
Plus JK Rowling is still rolling in millions of dollars. She has every resource and avenue to learn better, and actively chooses not to. Fuck JK Rowling and her transphobic bullshit.
She also has every insulation to not need to. Which is my point. I think she has, or at least had, the capacity to learn compassion for trans people. But it’s really hard to suddenly learn compassion when everyone that genuinely has it immediately starts depriving you of it.
Your final sentence there is precisely the sentiment that she’s received from everyone that understands the compassion she needs to learn. This is not conducive to the cooperation our society needs. The compassion she does receive is actually from very hateful people.
It takes a very rare person in this situation where they’re being attacked and are starting off with a toxic mentality to suddenly stop, rise above, self-reflect, admit their failings, and grow. So people with one bad take are immediately cast into a sea of poison when they don’t know how to swim. It’s happening over and over again. And cancel culture is patting itself on the back the whole time, saying, “See? They were a bad egg!” When they’re just as much to blame for that person’s downfall as the hateful community that fostered it.
But she also has every single resource to escape her line of thinking while refusing to do so. She has never interacting with the trans community in any sort of good faith: so she does not deserve it in kind.
None of this is “cancel culture”: again it’s calling out her horrific thoughts and ideas. Plus those same horrific thoughts and ideas have tangible horrific effects. Fuck JK Rowling.
She doesn’t know she needs to. She can’t humanize the other side. Something I think you can relate to. I’m not at all against calling out JK Rowling and her absolutely toxic viewpoint. I’m actually advocating for it. I’m calling out your toxic viewpoint because “Fuck JK Rowling” isn’t a heroic position that’s just “calling someone out”. It’s a vilifying statement that provides no path to redemption. It’s a selfish position you take to alleviate yourself of the responsibility of putting in the work to try and help the other person understand what they need to. While simultaneously making yourself feel like a champion.
I think if you set aside your ego and think about the times in your life when you got something wrong, you were only able to grow from it if your community (or maybe friends or family) help you to do so.
If you assume everyone that does a bad thing is evil, you’ll lose the fight pretty quick. When you keep pouring your hate into other people because they gave you a chance to do it while feeling righteous, the other side will gladly take them as soldiers. You’re just as responsible for those “horrific effects” as the people encouraging JK Rowling.
Imagine someone with the influence and platform of JK Rowling being on our side rather than pulling this shit. She could be an inspiration to all TERFs if we could make her understand the error of her ways. Even if she never did, I promise you, she wouldn’t be as extreme as she is now if people spent more time talking to her with basic respect and patience. Rather than selfishly using her as a conduit for their anger over the issue, however justified that rage may be.
I understand that a lot of people are traumatized and pissed and it sucks. But we’ve got to talk to each other. I know that in the end you want to make the world a better place. So hear this: any relationship without constructive conversation is doomed. We know they’re not going to pull their weight. So we’ve got to pull double. Don’t tell me it’s not your responsibility, because you’re right. But it doesn’t change the fact that they’re going to go out next election and make their vote. Or that they’re not going to keep donating to horrible institutions. So it’s got to be us. We’ve got to be the adults.
She is a millionaire that invests her resources into persecuting people for who they are and simply existing. Your acting as if she’s some teenager that said something without thinking. She a full grown adult who should know better, but instead acts like a child having a tantrum whenever she’s called out. I’m just some person saying fuck her for all of her bullshit. Don’t pretend as if we’re the same. We are not.
You’re attempt to compare us is not only disingenuous, but your rhetoric is actively condoning the multiple transphobic actions JK Rowling has made. She doesn’t deserve coddling: she’s fucking 58 years old. We can talk about human connection and pretend that “cancel culture” exists all we want. That doesn’t change the fact that she started raging against people human rights and then doubled down when called out. And until she recognizes how harmful her actions are she doesn’t deserve the slightest bit of consideration or pity. She doesn’t give it to the trans community, why the fuck should I give it to her? Just so she can spit on it and tell me to go die? Fuck that.
Though that’s a point I don’t expect someone yelling “cancel culture” to actually absorb and reflect on.
She is a millionaire
Billionaire*
Of course she doubled down when she was “called out” by your definition. With zero compassion or path for redemption. That’s my point. But no I guess I got infected by the idea of “cancel culture is bad”, sorry. I’m so silly. You’re right, spewing hate at people is the way to go, idk why I didn’t see it before. Maybe because that’s what’s happening and it hasn’t worked so far. But you’re right, if we scream a little louder she’ll have to understand she’s wrong. Any day now 😂
this kinda sounds like victim blaming. you’re putting it on trans people to tolerate hateful attacks and change their attackers’ minds, lest those people become more extreme when they’re rightfully called out. compare to any other minority/targeted group and those who hate them and listen to how your argument sounds.
naw. sorry, it’s on shitty people like Rowling to stop being shitty.
You’re so right… maybe your words will seed common sense in some people today. Take my petty upvote.
Notice how they said
Not assessed to be criminal
And not
Assesed to be not criminal
Scottish Cops are still Cops I guess
Sorry but is free speech dead or something? If this constitutes a crime then I have no hope for the human race anymore!
So what you’re saying is that it’s okay for me to call you a braindead moron-ass motherfucker with your own head lodged up your wide and prolapsed asshole destroyed by years of sitting on rightwing dick?
Are you saying you should be fined for it? Or just that you should be fined only if you have over X followers?
I’m saying you’re an idiot for having that opinion
This is exactly how it should be! You shouldn’t be able to call the police on me for having it though or on anyone else for having an opinion that you don’t agree with. This is the main topic of this discussion.
I mean…yeah. you get to express your opinion. He gets to express his.
I don’t agree with JK, but I’ll defend her right to say it. We stop what she is saying by being more compelling, not by prosecuting her for saying it.
That’s the kind of moronic thinking that led to the current wave of fascism to begin with.
If you are popular person you must be mindful that your words could ruin someone’s life. She cherry picks people here that “changed” gender to avoid man prison but in reality those are outliers. In the process, she is putting negative light on a whole group of people
Does the new law account for how famous one is?
Baesed on your comment, this is doing the exact same thing. Enforcing a law on everyone when it mostly is relevant to people who have a massive following
I am not familiar with law there, I just commented based on common logic and my human decency expectations. Imo, all hate should be equally punished, but non public hate will obviously be harder to pinpoint
This is all a reaction to a new law in Scotland, as described in the actual post above:
Scotland’s new Hate Crime and Public Order Act criminalizes “stirring up hatred” against people based on their race, religion, disability, sexuality or gender identity.
It is a vague definition, but people have been using it to go after JK Rowling for her stance on transgender people . I am not taking sides and not saying that her opinions are right, but I am just saying that people should be allowed to have and state their own opinion. It is the individuals responsibility to evaluate that opinion, and decide for or against it, not any law. Also a law should apply to everyone and not only to people who have a massive followage.
The same law prohibits age hatred. If it was to be enforced like like people here want it to, you’d get penalised for calling someone a boomer. Or maybe calling someone dissabled instead of a person with a dissabillty
Sure its wrong but you can’t go around regulating people like that
Sure thing, boomer. Go take your meds before you turn to dust.
Exactly! You should be allowed to call me a boomer without fearing that id call the police on you.
She looks like Putin in a wig and seems to share his views too.
Coincidence?
Crazy how many people in here agree that you should be punished by the government for things you say
A law is a strong as its enforcement. Without enforcement, it’s just political posturing.
You are correct, but laws like this do not need to be enforced. This is draconian.
What makes laws strong is precedent and this law doesn’t have any. Her case is too flimsy and we don’t want her to set precedent since she has infinite lawyers to defend her. Its better to get more solid cases first and then go after her when there is solid precedent.
It’s better not to persecute people just because you disagree with them.
It’s sad how you people are literally pushing for a world where someone can get arrested for not calling a trans woman a woman.
You’re going to make way more enemies than friends with that rhetoric, trust me.
Hello baby account that was created in order to comment on this thread but is also asking me to trust you.
The bill does not say that people will be arrested for “Not calling trans women women”. it’s the fucking Jordan Peterson thing again. You need to make clear threats towards the group and calling for the group to be abused to the same standard required by individual harassment charges.
So what’s the problem? She’s not making clear threats to the group or calling for them to be abused, but people in this thread still think she should be arrested.
Why do you think I want to defend the opinions of people that isn’t me? Go reply to their comments instead you weird little goblin.
Why are you insulting me? Lol.
If you don’t agree with them, then why are you commenting?
I think you’re just upset because I don’t offer unwavering support for your agenda.
Bingo. Just wanted to thank you for saying this
She should really check on the other laws to see if they’ll be enforced, too.
Now have a poor person say the exact same shit and report that
The laws don’t apply to rich people
True, but she also isn’t breaking any laws in this case.
Do you people legitimately believe others should be arrested because they don’t call you the words you want? Wow.
This comment was removed for saying: True, but she also isn’t breaking any laws in this case. Do you people legitimately believe others should be arrested because they don’t call you the words you want? Wow.
The reason given was saying “you people.” It’s painfully clear there is a a biased mod or group of mods on the mod team that wants to censor anything critical of the trans agenda.
Here’s another comment with someone calling me a “weird little goblin”, but they support the trans agenda so their comment gets to stay: https://lemmy.ca/comment/8395791
Lol. It’s so transparent it’s actually sad. I hope we get a new news community to replace this one.
On a side note, what is with all those fake, AI generated, car ads down at the bottom?
But will she continue bitching about it like Jordan Peterson still does about the law in Canada that he didn’t get arrested for supposedly violating?
100%
So many bigots suffer from perpetual victimhood.
Misinterpreted the law and went on a campaign about how he’d protest it and go on some sort of hunger strike like a martyr. Everyone that platformed him during that time owes everyone an apology.
She did send Harry Potter into the ladies toilet though 🤔
She also said she created Harry because she wanted to be a boy.
If She is not against transgender men. Then she may want everyone to be a boy.
https://medium.com/queertheory/harry-potter-transgender-hero-83094e02cd25
“I was supposed to be a boy,” she notes in A Year in the Life, a 2007 documentary
Oh, it’s the trans version of being gay is a choice i guess…
Would explain a lot, because to most transppl the thought of someone wanting to be what they were assigned at birth makes no sense whatsoever. But regardless it’s not hard to accept that others might feel like you do but in reverse. Shows one hell of a lack of empathy to then conclude that must mean anyone claiming they do want to must have ulterior motives.
Maybe that at least means there’s hope for her to realize what kind of bs she’s spouting, but she’s probably a lost cause.
Oh my goodness, that’s a tragic tale that explains so much. Back story really does make a difference in perspective, but she’s still a massive anal fissure of a person for alienating others and perpetuating the suffering she was passed.
Yeah if the most dramatic interpretation of all that is true, and I’m not saying it is, it’s not an excuse. A lot of the worst things done at anti gay conversion groups are done by people who objectively experience significant same gender attraction. That doesn’t absolve the straight people who taught them to hate themselves but their self hate manifests as torturing those who don’t hate themselves. It’s still evil to torture them no matter why you do it.
It’s sad watching you people twist your brains into knots to avoid realizing that some people don’t agree with you.
This has nothing to do with not agreeing with people.
