Halsey calls out JK Rowling over transphobic comments
8 June 2020, 13:12
Halsey calls out “Straight Pride” in moving concert speech
Harry Potter author J.K Rowling has come under fire following a Twitter rant invalidating the existence of trans women - and now celebrities including Halsey, have come out in full force to shut her down.
Remember when Harry Potter was an unproblematic, completely fictional series we loved for its magic and wholesome themes? Us neither.
Despite it being Pride month, and with conversations around the rights of black trans people being had everywhere right now, author JK Rowling has once again hit out on Twitter - for absolutely no reason whatsoever - directing her hate towards transgender women.
Taking to social media, the award-winning writer took issue with a headline of an article on the topic of healthcare equality, and particularly, creating a more equal world for people who menstruate.
READ MORE: Hospitals are cancelling trans people’s gender affirming surgeries amid coronavirus
Sarcastically responding to the opinion piece, she wrote "'People who menstruate'. I'm sure there used to be a word for those people,"
"Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?"
The tweet in question totally dismissed the many trans women who don't have periods, the trans men that do, non-binary people, women who have undergone hysterectomies, and women suffering from endometriosis to name but a few.
JK followed up her initial tweet with a series of tweets defending her position.
The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Sure, Jan.
Fans of Harry Potter and LGBTQ+ allies alike were quick to point out her wrongdoings.
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.
— I Support The Girls (@I_Support_Girls) June 6, 2020
Hi! I'm a man! I menstruate! Stop being an asshole!
— Zeke Smith (@zekerchief) June 6, 2020
Her name is ‘J.K.’ because this bitch can’t be serious
— Annabel Meschke (@annabel_meschke) June 7, 2020
The 54-year-old has a history of being problematic online, and this isn't the first time she's been called out for insensitive remarks after just last month she was spotted liking transphobic tweets - and fellow celebrities including Halsey have frankly had enough.
Clapping back in the perfect way, the singer and activist, who has been actively involved in Black Lives Matter protests simply tweeted: "Imagine writing a generation defining series about a youth uprisal that defeats a tyrannical monster motivated by the preservation of “pure blood” and looking at THIS time in the world and going “hmm...yep. I’m gonna invalidate trans people.”"
And she isn't the only one who feels that way, because her response has since gained almost 200,000 retweets, had feedback from the likes of Jameela Jamil and Sarah Paulson.
Imagine writing a generation defining series about a youth uprisal that defeats a tyrannical monster motivated by the preservation of “pure blood” and looking at THIS time in the world and going “hmm...yep. I’m gonna invalidate trans people.”
— h (@halsey) June 7, 2020
She has a point.
Why don't we use this pride month to empower our trans friends? Just a thought, JK...