J.K. Rowling isn’t having such a great time online!
The Harry Potter author and world-famous writer is facing major backlash this weekend after being accused of making some seriously transphobic comments on her official Twitter account.
Related: This Isn’t The First Time Twitter Has Called Out The Author As Transphobic…
The whole incident started on Saturday afternoon, when the 54-year-old author posted a tweet that shared a link to an article referring to how COVID-19 has changed the health landscape around the world for “people who menstruate.” Rowling took issue with that part, noting (as you can see, below) that her problem was with the presence of “people who menstruate” and not simply the word “women,” instead:
‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?
Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate https://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Almost immediately, the backlash began, with Rowling receiving a cascade of messages calling her out for her apparent anti-transgender stance.
One critic thoughtfully shared this opinion with Rowling about the aforementioned tweet:
“Not all women menstruate and not all who menstruate are women. There are many girls, non-binary folx, trans boys, and trans men who also get a period. We recognize that language change can be uncomfortable to get use to it. And we are grateful for inclusive authors and articles.”
Another added on from there, tweeting back this at the author:
“I know you know this because you have been told over and over and over again, but transgender men can menstruate. Non-binary people menstruate. I, a 37-year old woman with a uterus, have not menstruated in a decade. Women are not defined by their periods.”
Another one was more pointed, and took a shot directly at the popular author’s lasting legacy:
“Honestly, it’s amazing that you want this to taint your legacy. That this is something you want people to read on your in a biography about you or on your Wikipedia in 60 years.”
Yikes!
Still another user voiced their frustrations with Rowling’s repeated jumps into this area of debate:
“Ohmygod shut up. I can’t believe I used to love your books. My body shouldn’t have to be forcibly gendered just so I can have access to basic healthcare. You CANNOT claim to support trans people while also denying us the language necessary for us to have basic access 2 healthcare”
Not holding back!
For her part, the high-profile author responded to the thousands of tweets of backlash with her own thread going further about the issue, as you can see here:
Wow.
For much of Saturday and on into Sunday morning, then, she was a trending topic on Twitter — with many of the commentary highly critical of her stance on “people who menstruate,” as well as her ensuing follow-ups.
What do U make of Rowling’s tweets, and the reaction to it all, Perezcious readers? Where do U stand?
Sound OFF with your take on it down in the comments (below)…
[Image via WENN]
Related Posts
