Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has stirred up controversy over her support of a researcher fired for making transphobic comments.
Revered author J.K. Rowling, who wrote the acclaimed Harry Potter novels and is currently penning the Fantastic Beasts film series, has come under fire after expressing her support for policy researcher Maya Forstater. Fired from her job at the Centre for Global Development after posting several transphobic comments on Twitter, Forstater gained support from J.K Rowling through a tweet written by the author that includes the “I Stand with Maya” hashtag.
The post prompted fans of J.K Rowling to express their disappointment and anger over the author’s support of Forstater, who had written transphobic posts that include a tweet reading, “men cannot change into women.” Some have even gone as far as calling J.K. Rowling a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) due to her support of Forster, a term that, in short, is used to describe feminists who express transphobic ideas such as the claim that trans women are not women.
You can check out J.K Rowling’s post and some of the reactions below!
Dress however you please.
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? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheSocietyDude/status/1207669598692052992
— Sam Maggs (@SamMaggs) December 19, 2019
going full TERF, I see. At least you finally took off that mask for all to see.
— “Celia” (@_celia_bedelia_) December 19, 2019
In fact, the World Health Organization–among countless other medical authorities–validate trans people in their authentic gender identity.
It is quite clear you don't understand the first thing about the trans community or the science at play.
This is heartbreaking.
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) December 19, 2019
I grew up as a trans child reading your books as an escape. I would often pick out names from characters to give to myself, before I ever felt comfortable in who I was. This decision, to support people that hate me, and want to do me harm. It brings me to tears… Why. Why?
— IiIith (pre crisis) (@cuddlefishbee) December 19, 2019
J.K. Rowling co-wrote the upcoming third installment of the Fantastic Beasts film series. As with the previous two installments, the third Fantastic Beasts film will offer audiences a look at the Wizarding World in new continents, with the latest installment taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Directed by David Yates from a script written by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, Fantastic Beasts 3 will feature returning stars Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Johnny Depp, Ezra Miller, Alison Sudol, Dan Folger, and Katherine Waterson. Yates will also serve as a producer alongside David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram, and Tim Lewis.
Fantastic Beasts 3 is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 12, 2021.
Source: J.K. Rowling