The Harry Potter author hit out at Nicola Sturgeon after branding Graham Norton an ‘Old Testament prophet’
JK Rowling has launched her latest scathing attack on transgender rights.
The author, fresh from bashing Graham Norton for posting this seemingly harmless video, turned her ire towards Nicola Sturgeon, accusing the Scottish First Minister for “riding roughshod” over women’s rights.
She said Sturgeon would be to blame for cases of “voyeurism, sexual harassment, assault or rape” that she believes could result from allowing Scots to change their legal sex simply by signing a declaration.
It comes after Rowling shared a picture of herself wearing a T-shirt that branded Ms Sturgeon a “destroyer of women’s rights” on social media.
I stand in solidarity with @ForWomenScot and all women protesting and speaking outside the Scottish parliament. #NoToSelfID pic.twitter.com/5vZNaZu13H
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 6, 2022
Writing in The Sunday Times, Rowling accused Sturgeon of making the “extraordinary” suggestion that it was transphobic to claim that predatory men could claim to identify as female in an attempt to gain access to women’s spaces.
“Sturgeon loftily dismisses anyone who fears her new legislation could be wide open to abuse,” she said.
“Nobody but the very naive can fail to be aware that predatory men are capable of going to great lengths to gain easy access to victims, and have often sought out professions or special status that offer camouflage for their activities.”
Sturgeon has described herself as a “passional life-long feminist” and has dismissed the concerns of those who have called her plans “not valid”.
The Scottish Government is pushing legislation through Holyrood which would make it far easier for Scots to change their legal sex.
While currently a trans person needs a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and to live in their “acquired gender” for two years to change their birth certificate, Sturgeon wants to implement a “self-identification” system.
The age at which someone can apply for a gender recognition certificate (GRC) would be lowered from 18 to 16, while the period in which someone must live in their “acquired gender” would fall from two years to three months.
Those supporting the reforms claim that they will make no difference to the ability of male-bodied individuals to access women’s spaces.
Opponents insist a GRC hands holders new legal rights and that a government endorsement of the notion that gender identity trumps biological sex will in practice make it more difficult to exclude men from women’s spaces.
Some thoughts from me on what JK Rowling and John Cleese get wrong about cancel culture: a belief in accountability does not involve condoning threats or violence – and freedom of expression does not mean freedom from consequence.https://t.co/RWe6M9Nhl3
— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) October 19, 2022
Earlier this week, Rowling hit out at Graham Norton and left-wing activist for sharing their views on cancel culture and freedom of expression.
She said: “Very much enjoying the recent spate of bearded men stepping confidently onto their soapboxes to define what a woman is and throw their support behind rape and death threats to those who dare disagree.
“You may mock, but takes real bravery to come out as an Old Testament prophet.”
Bragg has responded to her comments in the New Statesman, saying “a freedom of expression does not mean freedom from consequence”.
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