A researcher who lost her job after arguing that transgender people cannot change their biological sex said that she had suffered vitriolic abuse while celebrities argued about her case.

Maya Forstater, a tax expert, thanked the author JK Rowling for her support yesterday after she lost an employment tribunal claim that she had been discriminated against because of her views.

An employment judge dismissed Ms Forstater’s case on Wednesday, ruling that her views on transgender women were “absolutist” and did not constitute a protected belief under equality law.

Martina Navratilova, the former tennis champion, supported Ms Forstater on Twitter, writing: “This kind of a situation will become more common and that’s not OK. We must do a better job protecting women.” Sharron Davies