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6 July 2020

JK Rowling sparks fresh outrage after comparing trans healthcare to conversion therapy

Do us all a favour, JK, and “Silencio”...

By Thomas Stichbury

For a woman who used to sprinkle so much magic into the world, JK Rowling sure has carved out a new niche for herself in spreading dangerous misinformation.

Triggering a fresh wave of backlash, the Harry Potter author appeared to triple-down on her anti-trans stance when she shared her problematic views on hormone treatments.

On Sunday, Rowling shared a lengthy Twitter tirade in response to a user who noticed that she had liked a tweet arguing that “hormone prescriptions are the new anti-depressants.”

The original post read: “Yes they are sometimes necessary and lifesaving, but they should be a last resort… Pure laziness for those who would rather medicate than put in the time and effort to heal people’s minds.”

Rowling, 54, came under fire from those who take daily medication to manage their mental health issues, not to mention trans people who have been prescribed hormones – needless to say, she did not take the criticism well.

“I’ve ignored fake tweets attributed to me and RTed widely. I’ve ignored porn tweeted at children on a thread about their art. I’ve ignored death and rape threats. I’m not going to ignore this,” she began.

“I’ve written and spoken about my own mental health challenges, which include OCD, depression and anxiety. I did so recently in my essay ‘TERF Wars’. I’ve taken anti-depressants in the past and they helped me,” she continues.

Rowling – who insists she supports trans women, yet continuously seems to deny their rights as women – goes on to make a disconcerting, to say the least, comparison between hormone treatment and conversion therapy.

“Many health professionals are concerned that young people struggling with their mental health are being shunted towards hormones and surgery when this may not be in their best interests,” she says.

She argues: “Many, myself included, believe we are watching a new kind of conversion therapy for young gay people, who are being set on a lifelong path of medicalisation that may result in the loss of their fertility and/or full sexual function.”

Trans activist Munroe Bergdorf was among those to speak out against Rowling’s latest incendiary comments.

“Didn’t take her long… Mark my words. J.K Rowling is dangerous and poses threat to LGBT people. Trans healthcare is not conversion therapy. This is INSANE”, she tweeted.

She added: “@jk_rowling is condescendingly tweeting from her mansion, black trans women are fighting for our lives. Trans kids are at home scared and navigating unsupportive environments and the government are debating our civil rights. J.K. Rowling, you are not helping us. STOP.”

The 32-year-old model also flagged that Rowling was recently cited by Senator James Lankford, in Oklahoma, to block an LGBTQ civil rights bill.

Last month Rowling – who is often labelled a TERF – took issue with an article that used the phrase “people who menstruate”.

She followed that up with an almost 4,000-word essay, titled “TERF wars,” in which she propagated myths and fictions about the transgender community.

Multiple Harry Potter cast members, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, have since condemned her.

If you want to show solidarity with the trans community, visit Mermaids UK for more information and to help support gender-diverse kids, young people and their families.

 

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