JK Rowling is facing widespread criticism from the transgender community and other activists after tweeting support for a researcher who lost her job for stating that people cannot change their biological sex.

The researcher, Maya Forstater, was sacked from the Centre for Global Development, an international think-tank, after tweeting her opposition to a British Government proposal that would make it easier for transgender people to change their legal sex.

The Centre for Global Development declined to renew her contract in March this year.

A London judge this week upheld her dismissal, finding that:

"[Forstater] is absolutist in her view of sex and it is a core component of her belief that she will refer to a person by the sex she considered appropriate even if it violates their dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment."

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On Thursday (local time), Rowling tweeted a response that said: "Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who'll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?"

She included the now trending hashtag #IStandWithMaya and #ThisIsNotADrill.

The Harry Potter author is otherwise known for her liberal political views and many on Twitter labelled her a TERF (Trans Exclusive Radical Feminist).

Among those criticising her was the Human Rights Campaign, which tweeted: "Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary. CC: JK Rowling."

A spokeswoman for Rowling said that the author would not have any further comment.

AP/Reuters