TL;DR
- J.K. Rowling supports anti-trans candidate Pam Gosal.
- Two trans MSPs elected in Scotland.
- Rowling criticized for her comments.
- Trans politicians emphasize hope and change.
- The controversy around Rowling continues.
J.K. Rowling is at it again, folks. The author of the beloved Harry Potter series is stirring the pot with her latest comments, and it’s not the kind of magic we want to see. Following the recent election of two transgender members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), Rowling decided to throw her support behind an anti-trans candidate who lost her race. Talk about a misfire!
On May 9, Rowling took to X (formerly Twitter) to post “Hear, hear” to her 13 million followers in response to a post praising Dr. Pam Gosal, a Scottish MSP who has a history of making anti-trans remarks. Gosal had previously expressed her delight when the U.K. Supreme Court ruled that trans women are not legally women. It’s a real head-scratcher why Rowling would choose to uplift someone like Gosal when the tides are clearly turning in favor of trans rights.
The original post that caught Rowling’s attention came from Scottish writer Susan Dalgety, who claimed, “This is what diversity looks like in power.” Ironically, this statement mirrors the sentiments expressed by Dr. Q Manivannan, one of the two newly elected trans MSPs. Manivannan and Iris Duane made history by winning their seats as members of the Scottish Green Party, and they’re not shy about their excitement.
Manivannan, representing Edinburgh and Lothians East (where Rowling resides), told a crowd, “I am to some in this country everything that the hateful despise and I am standing here as your MSP now with care.” Meanwhile, Duane shared a message of hope on Instagram Stories shortly after their victory. It seems like the new MSPs are all about positivity, while Rowling is stuck in her anti-trans narrative.
But wait, there’s more! On the same day Rowling endorsed Gosal, she also took a jab at U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer for appointing Harriet Harman as the Adviser on Women and Girls. Harman has expressed support for trans people, which clearly didn’t sit well with Rowling. She tweeted, “Bravo, @Keir_Starmer, for getting in an Adviser on Women and Girls who thinks the definition of women and girls includes men and boys.” Ouch!
Rowling’s anti-trans sentiments aren’t new. She’s been vocal about her views since 2018, but she really went full throttle in 2020 with a lengthy essay on her personal website. Since then, she’s been funding anti-trans initiatives through her own organization, which has raised eyebrows and sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ advocates.
https://www.x.com/DalgetySusan/status/2053096334190645548
As the world moves towards inclusivity and understanding, Rowling seems determined to cling to outdated views. With the election of trans politicians like Manivannan and Duane, it’s clear that change is happening, whether Rowling likes it or not. The question remains: will she ever learn to embrace the diversity she claims to support?