Yesterday, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling revealed her support for Maya Forstater, a U.K. researcher who was let ago after anti-trans tweets, with a transphobic message of her own. In response, LGBTQ+ rights organization GLAAD has issued a statement condemning her actions, saying that she "puts trans people at risk."
"J.K. Rowling, whose books gave kids hope that they could work together to create a better world, has now aligned herself with an anti-science ideology that denies the basic humanity of people who are transgender," GLAAD Head of Talent Anthony Ramos told Variety. "Trans men, trans women and non-binary people are not a threat, and to imply otherwise puts trans people at risk. Now is the time for allies who know and support trans people to speak up and support their fundamental right to be treated equally and fairly."
In addition to releasing this statement, GLAAD has contacted Rowling's PR team in order to organize an off-the-record discussion between the two parties. However, Rowling’s reps declined a meeting between the author and members of the trans community.
In a tweet on Thursday, Rowling issued the following message: "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?" The statement was accompanied by the hashtags #IStandWithMaya and #ThisIsNotADrill, in reference to Forstater.
According to BBC, Forstater formerly worked as a tax expert at the Center for Global Development. She did not have her contract renewed after she posted on social media condemning the government's ruling that people can declare their own gender. A court ruled she "was not entitled to ignore the rights of a transgender person and the 'enormous pain that can be caused by misgendering.'"
"It is a core component of [Forstater's] belief that she will refer to a person by the sex she considered appropriate even if it violates their dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment," Judge James Tayler declared. "The approach is not worthy of respect in a democratic society."
Though this is the first time she has stated her views so plainly, Rowling has a history of supporting anti-trans causes. She repeatedly liked transphobic tweets and following trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) on Twitter. Her spokespeople have referred to the likes as "middle-aged moments" that didn't signal agreement so much as poor use of technology, and described the follows as being people she found interesting but didn't necessarily agree with. Until now, she avoided making public statements about transgender issues in either direction.
By publicly siding with Forstater, the Harry Potter author has resolutely aligned herself with an anti-trans cause. Further, in rejecting GLAAD's invitation, she has doubled down on this stance.