J.K. Rowling says she would 'happily' do prison time for controversial transgender views
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It seems J.K. Rowling would rather do time in Azkaban than refer to transgender women as women.
The Harry Potter author has again voiced her controversial opinions on the transgender community and the use of pronouns. This time, she posted a photo on social media that featured the text: "Repeat after us: Trans women are women." In response, she wrote, "No."
When a commenter seemed to reference a report on the U.K.'s Labour Party working to incorporate transphobic abuse — including referring to someone with a pronoun they do not use — under hate crime legislation that would make offenses punishable by up to two years of imprisonment, Rowling essentially said she'd serve her time.
"I'll happily do two years if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex," she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
No. pic.twitter.com/YhoHfKdeat
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 17, 2023
"Bring on the court case, I say. It'll be more fun than I've ever had on a red carpet," she continued before specifying which prison duties would best suit her. "Hoping for the library, obviously, but I think I could do okay in the kitchen. Laundry might be a problem. I have a tendency to shrink stuff/turn it pink accidentally. Guessing that won't be an issue if it's mostly scrubs and sheets, though."
I'll happily do two years if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex. Bring on the court case, I say. It'll be more fun than I've ever had on a red carpet.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 17, 2023
Hoping for the library, obviously, but I think I could do ok in the kitchens. Laundry might be a problem. I have a tendency to shrink stuff/turn it pink accidentally. Guessing that won't be a major issue if it's mostly scrubs and sheets, though.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 17, 2023
Rowling first faced backlash for her beliefs in 2020, when she criticized an op-ed that used the phrase "people who menstruate."
"If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction," she said at the time. "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."
Rowling has continued to double down on her stance on gender despite pushback, including from Harry Potter film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. Though the Potter fandom has largely shunned the polarizing author (groups devoted to quidditch, the fictional game popularized by the Potter franchise, have since rebranded to cut ties with her), she has boarded HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series as an executive producer.
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic J.K. Rowling
Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content, evaded questions about the controversy surrounding Rowling at a press presentation earlier this year.
"I don't think this is the forum," Bloys said. "That's a very online conversation, very nuanced and complicated and not something we're going to get into. Our priority is what's on the screen. Obviously, the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That's our priority — what's on screen."
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