Harry Potter author JK Rowling is coming under fire for alleged anti-trans viewpoints.

What happened?

On Twitter, Rowling has a history of following anti-trans accounts, as well as liking their commentary.

‘On June 23rd, Twitter user @Persenche decided to go through the 666 people that Rowling follows. She found that Rowling followed 11 anti-trans activists and TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) including Julie Bindel, who has been an anti-trans activist for years,’ reports Alysia Stevenson for Femestella.

Most recently, Rowling followed Magdalen Berns, an anti-trans YouTuber known for videos such as ‘There’s no such thing as a lesbian with a penis’ and ‘Misgendering is violence? Nah, mate.’

Berns’ Twitter account is full of hateful rhetoric. For instance, when she compared trans women to white people wearing blackface.

Rowling’s (lack of) response

When asked about why she follows these accounts, a spokesperson for Rowling told PinkNews:

‘J.K. Rowling won’t be commenting. However, we know she follows on Twitter a wide range of people she finds interesting or thought-provoking.’

Rowling’s support for such anti-trans accounts comes into contradiction with her past support for the LGBTI community. For example, when she condemned the hateful Westboro Baptist Church or when she stood up for Tom Daley when he was taunted by homophobes.

Past gaffes

However, this is not the first time Rowling has been criticized for promoting anti-trans views. Last March, she liked a tweet by Racybearhold (whose account was recently suspended) which called trans women ‘men in dresses.’

Rowling’s publicist came out to say that she had liked the tweet by mistake.

‘I’m afraid J.K. Rowling had a clumsy and middle-aged moment and this is not the first time she has favorited by holding her phone incorrectly.’

Prior to that incident, Rowling liked a tweet that promoted an anti-trans Medium article by Harvey Jeni as well as a piece by anti-trans journalist Janice Turner entitled ‘Trans Rapists Are A Danger In Women’s Jails.’

Fan reactions

Unsurprisingly, many Harry Potter fans on Twitter are hurt and confused by Rowling’s anti-trans activity on the site. Some even questioned if it was still okay to enjoy Rowling’s work amid this controversy.

Hello about JK Rowling being anti trans i have an opinion and i’d like to know if i’m wrong. I think it’s okay to still love HP? it’s been ours for so long i feel like it’s not hers anymore and it’s okay to love it but we shouldn’t do anything to support her anymore — WOOLOO (@TreydenT) June 28, 2019

So ridiculously disappointed in @jk_rowling For someone who helped a generation believe in magic, to be an anti-Trans TERF goes against everything the world she wrote about believed in. Trans women are her “mudbloods”. For shame. #jkrowling #TransIsBeautiful #terf — FreddyPrinzeCharming (@freddypcharming) June 24, 2019

https://t.co/FNBB0QJV9f I really wish @jk_rowling would come out and explain not only the ways in which this article is wrong, but also to why she’s following and liking these anti-trans bigots. — Kevin Rhodes (@voiceofthewar) June 28, 2019

@jk_rowling You anti-trans stance is clear. You follow terfs. That saddens and sickens me. You are not too big too fall. How could you create such magic in the world and hold such a narrow mind? Grow up, trans women are women. pic.twitter.com/0zaRhU5ggJ — Ceara Albrecht (@variaironhawk) June 24, 2019

@jk_rowling why have you been liking anti trans and terf accounts and tweets? One mistake I can understand but this many? You made my childhood bearable. But knowing you condemn some of my best friends leaves me unable to read your books or watch the movies… I’m sickened — BethanB (@BethanB3) June 25, 2019

@jk_rowling created a universe and story about inclusivity and fighting against a broken system against bigotry and yet she is vocally transphobic and in total support of anti-trans platforms. Maybe it’s time we as the #HarryPotter fanbase eliminate #JKR from the picture. — Rachel (@TripleRRachel) June 29, 2019

Yeah so jk rowling follows WAY SO MANY terfs and anti-trans people so can we stop saying she’s not a terf? She either unfollows these people or she’s a terf i don’t see another outcome tbh bc if you follow terfs, you’re okay with seeing their shit on your tl — Bouch Boy (@passthehanky) June 24, 2019

Hi @jk_rowling, I’m not sure if you’ll even notice this but I read a devastating article about you being anti trans. You do know that a large percentage of your fans come from the LGBTQ+ community, right? The HP books taught us inclusivity. Hope you could clear the air. — FABGELOU$ (@fabgelous) June 24, 2019

See Also

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TERF writer loses lawsuit against Twitter, will remain banned