J.K. Rowling Accused Of Transphobia On Twitter

Photo: Getty Images.

J.K. Rowling is once again being called out for transphobia follow a series of provocative and exclusionary tweets.

The Harry Potter author posted a tweet on Saturday night in which she appeared to take issue with the phrase "people who menstruate" in an article by Devex, a media outlet which covers global development news.

"I'm sure there used to be a word for those people," she wrote, adding: "Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"

This is why I'm glad I'm not judging the competition, because I'd want to put them all in! It's pure pleasure for me to see all the different interpretations of the characters and scenes! #TheIckabog https://t.co/hX1aEhjr4M
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020

As many people on Twitter pointed out, Rowling's tweet seems deliberately designed to exclude trans, non-binary and non-gender conforming people who can also menstruate.

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.@jk_rowling These times are hard enough without YOU, a wealthy white woman, tweeting transphobia from your mansion.

Trans people really don't need your bullshit right now. Do us all a favour and give it a rest.

To say that you're a disappointment is an understatement #TERF https://t.co/oFekQHIqCs
— Black Lives Matter ✊🏾 (@MunroeBergdorf) June 7, 2020

every time JK Rowling says something transphobic let's donate the cost of a book to a charity she would hate
— Brymatica (@BryonyCloud) June 6, 2020

Says a lot that as soon as I call out @jk_rowling for perpetuating transphobic ideas, my mentions are instantly flooded with people calling me a “man” & “freak.” These are your followers. This is the behavior & language you embolden. Stop shrugging it off & take responsibility.
— Serena Daniari (@serenajazmine) June 7, 2020

Author Juno Dawson cut to the core of the problem with Rowling's tweet when she wrote: "We’re in a global pandemic. We’re protesting police brutality and racial injustice, and the most famous author in the world is twisting linguistic pretzels to say 'trans women are not women'".

We’re in a global pandemic. We’re protesting police brutality and racial injustice, and the most famous author in the world is twisting linguistic pretzels to say “trans women are not women”.

Honestly, I’m exhausted.

I can’t believe imma have to block her for my mental health.
— Juno Dawson (@junodawson) June 6, 2020

We are in a pandemic and in the struggle to uphold the importance of black lives, including black trans lives. There could be no worse time for her to present her Dolores Umbridge nonsense
— shon faye. (@shonfaye) June 6, 2020

Rowling then tried to defend her initial tweet by clinging to a binary conception of gender based on biological sex.

She wrote: "If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.

She continued: "The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense."

This isn't the first time Rowling has been accused of displaying views which align with those of anti-trans feminists. Rowling was previously called out for transphobia in December when she voiced support for a British researcher who lost her job after tweeting that a person cannot change their biological sex.

On Twitter, many people including Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness pointed out that – if you can afford it – now is an apt time to donate to Black trans people, who are still not receiving anything close to the structural and financial support they need.