British evolutionary biologist <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/famed-atheist-richard-dawkins-has-humanist-of-the-year-award-revoked-for-questioning-transgenderism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard Dawkins</a> confirmed that, according to his decades of study on the subject, there were only two biological sexes — and decried activists who attacked author J.K. Rowling for saying so as &#8220;bullies.&#8221;
Dawkins joined host Piers Morgan on his show &#8220;Uncensored,&#8221; and the conversation turned to concerted efforts by activists within the LGBTQ community to erase sex and gender from language.
WATCH:
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Richard Dawkins says JK Rowling and Kathleen Stock have been &quot;bullied&quot; while standing up for themselves over trans issues.
&quot;As a biologist, there are two sexes and that&#39;s all there is to it.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/RichardDawkins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RichardDawkins</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@piersmorgan</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jk_rowling</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Docstockk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Docstockk</a> <a href="https://t.co/jAV1WoGoPj">pic.twitter.com/jAV1WoGoPj</a>
&mdash; Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) <a href="https://twitter.com/PiersUncensored/status/1637914407106650115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;What is troubling to me is that they want to — what they call &#8216;de-gender&#8217; and neutralize language,&#8221; Morgan prompted, adding, &#8220;But they&#8217;re doing it from a completely false pretense, that you can somehow pretend biology doesn&#8217;t exist.&#8221;
Morgan went on to point out the fact that, despite being at odds with &#8220;incontrovertible&#8221; biological realities, those activists still appeared to be enjoying some measure of success — at least temporarily.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve seen the way J.K. Rowling has been bullied, the way Kathleen Stock has been bullied,&#8221; Dawkins agreed. &#8220;They&#8217;ve stood up to it. But it&#8217;s very upsetting, the way this tiny minority of people has managed to capture the discourse and to really talk errant nonsense.&#8221;
&#8220;What&#8217;s the answer to it?&#8221; Morgan asked.
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&#8220;Science,&#8221; was Dawkins&#8217; matter-of-fact reply. &#8220;There are two sexes. You can talk about gender if you wish, and that&#8217;s &#8230; I&#8217;m not interested in that. As a biologist, there are two sexes and that&#8217;s all there is to it.&#8221;
Morgan then noted that Dawkins was stripped of a humanist award in 2021 for his comments on such issues — namely a tweet he shared on April 10, 2021: &#8220;In 2015, Rachel Dolezal, a white chapter president of NAACP, was vilified for identifying as Black. Some men choose to identify as women, and some women choose to identify as men. You will be vilified if you deny that they literally are what they identify as. Discuss.&#8221;
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In 2015, Rachel Dolezal, a white chapter president of NAACP, was vilified for identifying as Black. Some men choose to identify as women, and some women choose to identify as men. You will be vilified if you deny that they literally are what they identify as.
Discuss.
&mdash; Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardDawkins/status/1380812852055973888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Dawkins had <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/richard-dawkins-declares-only-two-sexes-matter-science-thats-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously responded</a> to attempts to change language around the demands of activists, promising to defy the new rules and saying that the only reasonable response to such attempts was &#8220;ridicule.&#8221;
&#8220;The only possible response is contemptuous ridicule. I shall continue to use every one of the prohibited words. I am a professional user of the English language. It is my native language,&#8221; he said.

Professor Richard Dawkins Promotes His New Book “Appetite For Wonder: The Making Of A Scientist”

‘That’s All There Is To It’: Famed Biologist Confirms ‘There Are Two Sexes,’ Defends J.K. Rowling

Famed Biologist Richard Dawkins Confirms 'There Are Two Sexes,' Defends J.K. Rowling

JK Rowling

Piers Morgan

Science

Transgender

World

Author <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/cnn-responds-to-witch-trials-of-j-k-rowling-podcast-by-burning-the-author-at-the-digital-stake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.K. Rowling</a> admitted that she knew her comments about the trans community would land &#8220;like a hand grenade&#8221; — but she said that she was so &#8220;angry&#8221; she pushed ahead anyway.
The &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; creator has been working through her comments and the backlash she has received on a <a href="https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/jk-rowling-trans-women-comments-potter-fans-grateful-1235553709/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serial podcast</a> titled &#8220;The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling,&#8221; and she said on episode five that the real firestorm began in 2020 while the world was still reeling from the impact of the COVID pandemic.
What set <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/bbc-forced-to-apologize-to-j-k-rowling-after-guest-delivers-on-air-rant-over-trans-rights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rowling</a> off initially, she said, was an article she saw on Twitter titled &#8220;Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate&#8221; — and she said that she saw in that one headline a concerted effort within the trans community to erase everything that made biological women unique.
&#8220;I’m coming to that article on the background of what I see as huge injustice and people trying to shut women down … So I was angry, and I was flippant,&#8221; Rowling explained, saying that was the reason for the tweet she posted in response.
&#8220;&#8216;People who menstruate.&#8217; I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?&#8221; she tweeted at the time, adding that she knew there would be backlash — that it would be &#8220;like dropping a hand grenade into Twitter.&#8221;
&#8220;Did I mean to drop a hand grenade in? No. I was just keeping a rein on my own fury. So off it went,&#8221; she continued.
And once the ball started rolling, the author said that she kept on tweeting: &#8220;If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. 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.&#8221;
<a href="https://dailywire.com/news/get-a-bloody-mirror-j-k-rowling-points-out-what-real-misogyny-is-in-one-tweet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rowling</a> went on to say that she was used to attacks, noting that because the &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; series embraced a world of wizardry and witchcraft she had faced some backlash from certain religious elements – but she said the attacks from the left &#8220;hit differently &#8230; because I would assume we share certain values.&#8221;
&#8220;But at the same time, I have to tell you, a ton of Potter fans were still with me. And in fact, a ton of Potter fans were grateful that I’d said what I said,&#8221; Rowling continued, adding, &#8220;I stand by every word that I wrote there, but the question is, What is the truth? And I’m arguing against people who are literally saying sex is a construct, [that] it’s not real.&#8221;
Rowling later addressed the people who advocate for radical gender theory — particularly those who advocate for it but refuse to debate the ideology on its merits — and said that she absolutely believed there was &#8220;something dangerous about this movement and it must be challenged.&#8221;
&#8220;My position is that this activists&#8217; movement, in the form that it’s currently taking, echoes the very thing that I was warning against in Harry Potter,&#8221; she said.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald” UK Premiere – Red Carpet Arrivals

‘I Was Angry’: J.K. Rowling Knew Her Trans Comments Would Land ‘Like A Hand Grenade’

J.K. Rowling Says She Knew Her Trans Comments Would Land 'Like A Hand Grenade'

Harry Potter

Social Issues

An actress best known for her work in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/harry-potter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harry Potter</a> film franchise took a strong stance in support of detransitioners in a recent interview.
Evanna Lynch, an Irish actress whose character Luna Lovegood appeared in four of the eight Harry Potter films, who had previously criticized J.K. Rowling for her opinions on transgender issues, praised the Harry Potter author for elevating the stories of detransitioners in an <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/harry-potters-evanna-lynch-jk-rowling-has-always-advocated-vulnerable/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> for the Telegraph.
&#8220;I do also think it’s important that JK Rowling has been amplifying the voices of detransitioners,&#8221; said Lynch. &#8220;I had this impulse to go, ‘Let’s all just stop talking about it,’ and I think probably I’m a bit braver now about having uncomfortable conversations.&#8221;
In 2020, Lynch had said Rowling was “on the wrong side of this debate,” and called her “irresponsible” for using Twitter to discuss the “delicate topic” of transgender issues. Now, Lynch has backtracked from her previous criticisms of Rowling because she has a better understanding of both sides of the debate.
“I was very naive when I was dragged into that conversation,&#8221; said Lynch. &#8220;I didn’t even know there were two sides. I had a view of, like, good and bad. I do have compassion for both sides of the argument.&#8221;
Lynch said she could relate to those suffering from mental health and body image issues, having struggled with anorexia as an adolescent, according to her interview with the Telegraph.
&#8220;I know what it was like to be a teenager who hated my body so much I wanted to crawl out of my skin, so I have great compassion for trans people and I don’t want to add to their pain,&#8221; she said.
Lynch, who has said she shares similarities with the quirky and unconventional character Luna Lovegood she played in the Harry Potter franchise, alluded to seeking a diagnosis of Autism Spectum Disorder (ASD). Lynch told the Telegraph that she is exploring &#8220;neurodiversity,&#8221; and while she is seeking a diagnosis, she does not want &#8220;to cling on to one label yet.&#8221;
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&#8220;I’ve always just said: ‘I’m too sensitive, life is overwhelming.’ I’ve started to think there might be a more scientific reason for this feeling of oddness,” said Lynch.
Many young women who had flown under the radar of an autism diagnosis as a child are discovering the possibility they may be on the spectrum now that new research on autism in women has emerged. Up until recently, autism was considered a “boy’s diagnosis,” affecting males and females by a ratio of 4:1. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35204992/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Experts</a> now believe that girls’ autistic traits present differently, which may require separate diagnostic criteria to detect, and that the sex ratio may be more evenly matched than previously thought.
Lynch said that others should try to consider Rowling&#8217;s point of view, and expressed that she would “always defend her character.”
&#8220;I just felt that her character has always been to advocate for the most vulnerable members of society,&#8221; said Lynch. &#8220;The problem is that there’s a disagreement over who’s the most vulnerable. I do wish people would just give her more grace and listen to her.”
Vulnerable members of society include detransitioners, a growing population of young people who formerly identified as transgender and speak about the medical harm they endured from chemical and surgical sex change services they now regret — which were frequently prescribed by health care professionals without proper evaluation and mental health assessments.
Many of these detransitioners believe they were misdiagnosed because they were struggling with mental health issues like depression or neurodevelopmental conditions like autism when they chose to transition. They were often introduced to transgender ideology through TikTok and YouTube or other social influences, and at the time believed that adopting a transgender identity would alleviate their distress.
The mere existence of detransitioners disrupts the predominant transgender narrative, especially when it comes to the permanent and irreversible effects of pediatric medical transition. They have, for the most part, been ignored by legacy media outlets, and derided by transgender activists as &#8220;bigots&#8221; and &#8220;transphobes.&#8221;
There are seven detransitioners in the United States, Canada, the U.K., and most recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/detransitioner-takes-first-legal-action-in-spain-against-health-provider-that-transitioned-her-as-a-minor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spain</a>, who have recently brought legal action against the medical providers that facilitated their chemical and surgical transitions.
While the exact number of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chris-cuomo-hosts-first-national-news-coverage-of-detransitioners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">detransitioners</a> is unknown, and more research is needed, the number appears to be steadily rising. A <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/detrans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forum created</a> in 2017 for detransitioners on Reddit appears to be adding over 1,000 members a month, and now has nearly 45,000 members.
Studies that have shown a small rate of regret of medical transition are often used by transgender activists to dismiss or diminish the experience of detransitioners. However, upon closer inspection, the two extensive studies that found 2% or less of individuals regret their transition surveyed adults, not the new cohort of adolescents that people are most concerned about.
Researchers recognize that short-term studies may underestimate detransition and regret because it can take up to a decade after treatment for some people to experience these outcomes. Additionally, some studies lose track of patients as they age out of pediatric clinics.
Two smaller studies in the U.K. report that between <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/access-to-care-and-frequency-of-detransition-among-a-cohort-discharged-by-a-uk-national-adult-gender-identity-clinic-retrospective-casenote-review/3F5AC1315A49813922AAD76D9E28F5CB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7%</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35052285/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10%</a> of patients initially assessed for gender-related medical services later detransitioned. In the United States, a recent study found that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1054139X22007194" target="_blank" rel="noopener">29%</a> of 68 patients seeking medical transition care changed their requests for hormone treatment, surgery, or both. Another U.S. study from last year found that <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/107/9/e3937/6572526?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noopener">30%</a> of patients who commenced cross-sex hormone treatment discontinued it within four years for unknown reasons.
An <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/upcoming-event-for-detransition-awareness-day-poised-to-yield-largest-turnout-yet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upcoming event</a> for “Detrans Awareness Day” organized by <a href="https://ourduty.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OurDuty</a>, a nonpartisan group of parents and allies, scheduled to take place at the California State Capitol in Sacramento on Friday, March 10, is anticipated to be the largest ever.
The event is geared toward raising awareness of the growing population of minors and adults harmed by gender ideology and the chemical and surgical sex change services they hastily received due to the “affirmative” model of transgender care embraced by United States <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-medical-groups-get-the-science-wrong-on-pediatric-gender-affirming-care" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medical organizations</a>.

Lumos Fundraising Event Hosted By J.K. Rowling

‘Harry Potter’ Starlet Evanna Lynch Shows Support For Detransitioners

Ireland

United Kingdom

The boycotts against the “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/harry-potter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harry Potter”</a>-themed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games">video game</a>, “Hogwarts Legacy,” seem to have failed miserably.
Early sales numbers for the action role-playing game (RPG) developed by Avalanche Software show that it&#8217;s a huge hit with customers. In the first two weeks of the game’s debut, &#8220;Hogwarts Legacy&#8221; sold more than 12 million units, raking in more than $850 million in sales. That makes it the biggest global launch in Warner Bros. Games history and one of the fastest-selling video games of all time.
Many trans activists were opposed to the release of the game due to its association with creator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jk-rowling">J.K. Rowling</a> and the likelihood that she would receive a portion of the royalties. Rowling is a staunch leftist feminist but has become incredibly controversial in recent years for questioning the trans agenda and accusing activists of ignoring the rights of women.
Avalanche Software had already begun working on the immersive RPG before the controversy with Rowling started. They’ve since tried to distance themselves from the drama, but the calls to boycott the game were pervasive anyway. 
“J.K. Rowling was not involved in the creation of the game,” the <a href="https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-us/faq">FAQ page</a> on the game’s official site says. “While remaining true to J.K. Rowling’s original vision, Portkey game developers chart new territory by creating fresh ways for fans to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World.”
The game’s creators also included a supposed trans-identifying character who says at one point in the game: “I was actually a witch, not a wizard.”
Even with these efforts, some video game reviewers were reluctant to post their opinions about Hogwarts Legacy or to even admit they had played it, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trans-activists-urge-boycott-of-hogwarts-legacy-video-game-despite-j-k-rowling-not-being-involved">reported</a>.
“Hogwarts Legacy cannot and should not be judged solely on its own merits, because the end result of supporting this game financially and socially isn’t simply a matter of how much you’ll enjoy it, or how nostalgic it might be to experience the world of Harry Potter,” GamesHub reviewer Percy Ranson, who identifies as transgender, wrote of the game. 
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“If you purchase this game — if you praise its qualities and encourage others to ‘support the developers’ or ‘treat yourself to a guilty pleasure’ — you are making a choice that will harm the transgender community, whether you want to admit it or not,” Ranson continued, echoing what many other critics were saying.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will become available for other gaming systems in the coming months.

Hogwarts Legacy Photo Illustrations

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Video Game Rakes In $850M In 2 Weeks Despite Boycott Attempts Over J.K. Rowling Earning Royalties

'Hogwarts Legacy' Video Game Rakes In $850M In 2 Weeks Despite Boycott Attempts Over J.K. Rowling Earning Royalties

Entertainment

Video Games

Author <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/bbc-forced-to-apologize-to-j-k-rowling-after-guest-delivers-on-air-rant-over-trans-rights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.K. Rowling</a> joined host Megan Phelps-Roper for an audio series titled &#8220;The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling&#8221; — and CNN published a companion article that was supposed to act as an explainer, but read more like a targeted hit piece.
The audio series delves into Rowling&#8217;s experience as an author, and later, as an activist — as her defenses of biological women&#8217;s rights and protections have often put her in the crosshairs of the transgender community.
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Last year <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jk_rowling</a> responded to a letter I wrote her. I’d asked if she’d be part of a conversation seeking to understand her perspective and those of her critics.
The result is a new audio series from <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thefp</a>: THE WITCH TRIALS OF J.K. ROWLING
My essay: <a href="https://t.co/nNMyRGpgBy">https://t.co/nNMyRGpgBy</a>
&mdash; Megan Phelps-Roper (@meganphelps) <a href="https://twitter.com/meganphelps/status/1625465141046247425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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CNN&#8217;s <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/21/entertainment/jk-rowling-podcast-release-what-to-know-cec/index.html?utm_term=link&amp;utm_content=2023-02-21T15%3A00%3A03&amp;utm_source=twCNN&amp;utm_medium=social" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explainer</a>, which does not include a single &#8220;opinion&#8221; designation, leads off with the headline, &#8220;What to know about J.K. Rowling’s new podcast and history of harmful anti-trans comments.&#8221;
The network&#8217;s official tweet promoting the article shows a definite slant as well, reading, &#8220;The &#8216;Harry Potter&#8217; author has continued to make anti-transgender comments and promote stories on her Twitter account that discredit trans-inclusive advocacy.&#8221;
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The &quot;Harry Potter&quot; author has continued to make anti-transgender comments and promote stories on her Twitter account that discredit trans-inclusive advocacy. <a href="https://t.co/9Ulfs9c0uK">https://t.co/9Ulfs9c0uK</a>
&mdash; CNN (@CNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1628046902695497728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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CNN Associate Writer Scottie Andrew, who authored the piece, opened by accusing Rowling of making &#8220;inflammatory comments about transgender people, particularly trans women, using dehumanizing language and baselessly accusing them of harming cisgender women.&#8221;
She then included a series of sub-headlines that also clearly sided against Rowling.
<ul>
<li>
<p id="paragraph-3c453d20-7afe-9dc4-89d3-7040e3acb56e" class="subheader" data-editable="text" data-uri="archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/subheader/instances/paragraph_3C453D20-7AFE-9DC4-89D3-7040E3ACB56E@published" data-component-name="subheader">&#8220;The first episodes mostly don’t mention Rowling’s anti-trans comments&#8221;
</li>
<li>
&#8220;Trans people face a dangerous and difficult reality&#8221;
</li>
<li>&#8220;Rowling’s views continue to cause harm&#8221;</li>
</ul>
Andrews included a number of comments Rowling made on Twitter in defense of biological women — and particularly, in defense of ousted think tank employee <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/20/uk/jk-rowling-transgender-tweets-scli-intl-gbr/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maya Forstater</a>, forced out over her opposition to a U.K. government move to allow people to self-select their genders on official papers.
&#8220;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?&#8221; she tweeted.
Rowling, who was quickly labeled a trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF), continued to defend biological sex, saying that if it was not real, then the &#8220;lived reality of women globally is erased.&#8221;
Andrews then attacked Rowling&#8217;s claims that many who initially seek gender-affirming medical care ultimately <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/researcher-debunks-claim-trans-youths-mental-health-improves-with-gender-affirming-care/">change their minds</a> over time — and claimed that those who did choose to <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/detransitioners-medically-harmed-by-gender-affirming-care-speak-in-favor-of-tennessee-ban/">detransition</a> probably did so because of exposure to transphobic views.
&#8220;Later that month, Rowling published a lengthy essay defending her views on her website. In it, Rowling explained why she’d been &#8216;worried about the new trans activism.&#8217; She cited the oft-mentioned but little-researched claim that many people who seek gender-affirming health care eventually regret their decision and want to reverse it, which is known as detransitioning,&#8221; Andrews wrote. &#8220;It’s rare for a trans person to detransition, and there’s little data to back Rowling’s claims. When people do detransition, it’s often understood to be a product of transphobia and discrimination in their lives.&#8221;
The article ended with a recap of the recent controversy over the new video game &#8220;Hogwarts Legacy&#8221; — which introduces the first trans character to the Harry Potter universe — and a number of trans activists who claimed that buying or playing the game would only further Rowling&#8217;s &#8220;harmful&#8221; views.

2019 RFK Ripple of Hope Awards

CNN Responds To ‘Witch Trials Of J.K. Rowling’ Podcast By Burning The Author At The Digital Stake

CNN Responds To 'Witch Trials Of J.K. Rowling' Podcast By Burning The Author At The Digital Stake

Media

Media Bias

U.S.

An op-ed article in The New York Times has expressed support for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jk-rowling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.K. Rowling&#8217;s</a> views on transgender issues, following the publication of two open letters on Wednesday alleging the paper&#8217;s past coverage of child sex changes was biased against transgender people.
The New York Times published an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/opinion/jk-rowling-transphobia.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">op-ed</a> titled &#8220;In Defense of J.K. Rowling&#8221; by columnist Pamela Paul one day after nearly 200 of the newspaper&#8217;s contributors signed a joint <a href="https://nytletter.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> accusing The New York Times of &#8220;anti-trans bias&#8221; and aligning their views with &#8220;far-right hate groups,&#8221; which was followed by a <a href="https://www.glaad.org/new-york-times-sign-on-letter-from-lgtbq-allied-leaders-and-organizations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second letter</a> led by LGBT advocacy group GLAAD and signed by activists and public figures.
&#8220;Our journalism strives to explore, interrogate and reflect the experiences, ideas and debates in society — to help readers understand them. Our reporting did exactly that and we&#8217;re proud of it,&#8221; said Charlie Stadtlander, a spokesman for the Times, adding that on the subject of transgender issues, the consideration that went into their reporting was done &#8220;deeply and empathetically.&#8221;
The New York Times has found itself embroiled in a heated debate on transgender issues after publishing articles in recent months that attempted to take a fair and balanced approach on the subject of pediatric social and medical transition.
Backlash from the reporting culminated in two open letters that were published on Wednesday, one from 200 New York Times staff and contributors to Philip B. Corbett, associate managing editor for standards at the Times, and the other from GLAAD, an LGBT advocacy organization, signed by celebrities and activists.
The first letter accused the paper of “editorial bias” in its reporting on &#8220;transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people,&#8221; while the second letter accused the NYT of &#8220;irresponsible, biased coverage of transgender people.&#8221; The signatories of the GLAAD letter include several campaign groups, along with celebrities including Jameela Jamil, Lena Dunham, Gabrielle Union, Judd Apatow, and Tommy Dorfman.
A few of the &#8220;problematic&#8221; articles the letters mentioned were Emily Bazelon’s &#8220;The Battle Over Gender Therapy,&#8221; &#8220;When Students Change Gender Identity and Parents Don’t Know&#8221; by Katie Baker, and &#8220;How to Make Sense of the New L.G.B.T.Q. Culture War&#8221; by Ross Douthat.
The publication of the pro-Rowling article indicates that The New York Times is still willing to share a range of opinions on the debate, despite criticism. In her op-ed, Paul argued that the abuse faced by the author of the &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; series is unfounded and that her statements do not qualify as transphobic. She denounced Rowling&#8217;s detractors as a &#8220;noisy fringe of the internet and a number of powerful transgender rights activists and L.G.B.T.Q. lobbying groups.&#8221;
Paul argues that Rowling is not disputing the existence of gender dysphoria and has never voiced opposition to allowing adults to transition under evidence-based medical care, but her defense of biological women&#8217;s spaces, skepticism of self-declared &#8220;gender identity,&#8221; and support for detransitioners and feminist scholars have been interpreted by some as &#8220;transphobic.&#8221;
Paul references the new <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/the-witch-trials-of-jk-rowling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">podcast</a>, &#8220;The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling,&#8221; set to launch next week by Megan Phelps-Roper, a former member of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church, which includes nine hours of interviews with Rowling that explore her views and the backlash faced by the author.
Paul argues that those who accuse Rowling of punching down against her critics ignore the fact that she is sticking up for those who have silenced themselves to avoid job loss, public vilification, and threats to physical safety that other critics of recent gender orthodoxies have suffered.
“The pushback is often, ‘You are wealthy. You can afford security. You haven’t been silenced.’ All true. But I think that misses the point,&#8221; Rowling says in the podcast. &#8220;The attempt to intimidate and silence me is meant to serve as a warning to other women” with similar views who might want to have their opinions heard.

New York Times Publishes Op-Ed Defending J.K. Rowling’s Trans Views Amid Accusations of Anti-Trans Bias

New York Times Publishes Op-Ed Defending J.K. Rowling's Trans Views Amid Accusations of Anti-Trans Bias

Gender Pronouns

New York

New York Times

Puberty blockers

transgender surgery

“Harry Potter” creator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jk-rowling">J.K. Rowling</a> will be telling her side of the story as part of a new <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/podcast">podcast</a> called “The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling.”
The 57-year-old British author has become an extremely controversial figure in mainstream media and with some fans and critics over recent years. Though Rowling considers herself a liberal feminist, she disagrees with radical left-wing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/gender">gender theory</a>, which in turn made her an enemy of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lgbtq">transgender activists</a>. Now, the best-selling author will explain the story from her perspective.
A sneak preview of the podcast was just released. “What has interested me in recent years, particularly on social media [is when fans say], ‘You’ve ruined your legacy. Oh, you could have been beloved forever, but you chose to say this,’” Rowling says during the trailer. “And I think: ‘You could not have misunderstood me more profoundly.’”
“I never set out to upset anyone,” she says. “However, I was not uncomfortable with getting off my pedestal.”
“The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling” will premiere February 21. It’s hosted by Megan Phelps-Roper, who was raised in a family that attended the infamous Westboro Baptist Church. Phelps-Roper has since denounced the church and <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/the-witch-trials-of-jk-rowling">explained</a> that Rowling had agreed to speak to her after reading her memoir, &#8220;Unfollow.&#8221;
The podcast description <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2DZOjpO1EPfwcrB6Ol2nhU?si=ddd433a87df44969&amp;nd=1">page</a> calls the project “an audio documentary that examines some of the most contentious conflicts of our time through the life and career of the world’s most successful author,” featuring Rowling speaking with “unprecedented candor and depth about the controversies surrounding her—from book bans to debates on gender and sex.” 
The controversy exploded in 2020 when Rowling mocked an article headline which referred to women as “people who menstruate.”
“‘People who menstruate,’” Rowling <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1269382518362509313">responded</a> on Twitter. “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction,” she went on. “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.”
Though Rowling received an intense backlash for the statement, she never backed down beyond saying she doesn’t hate anyone.
“I have no irrational fear of or hatred towards trans people in the slightest – as, God knows, I’ve said so many times,” the “Harry Potter” author <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/j-k-rowling-on-why-she-chose-to-stand-up-to-trans-activists-a-phenomenally-privileged-position">said</a> during an interview in December 2022. “But if you’re going to say it’s ‘hate’ not to believe in a gendered soul, then we cannot have a discussion. We can’t. There’s nowhere to go. The tactic has been no debate, but it is changing.”

EE British Academy Film Awards – Red Carpet Arrivals

J.K. Rowling Discusses Her Portrayal As Anti-Trans Villain In New Podcast, Says She’s ‘Profoundly Misunderstood’

J.K. Rowling Discusses Her Portrayal As Anti-Trans Villain In New Podcast, Says She's 'Profoundly Misunderstood'

Celebrities

Liberalism

Podcast

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">Transgender activists</a> are furious over the release of the Harry Potter-themed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games">video game</a> “Hogwarts Legacy” after labeling author <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jk-rowling">J.K. Rowling</a> a “transphobe.” They don&#8217;t want anyone reviewing or playing it.
Game developer Avalanche Software began working on the immersive role-playing game long before the controversy with Rowling started and has since attempted to distance the game from her.  
“J.K. Rowling was not involved in the creation of the game,” the FAQ page on the game’s official site <a href="https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-us/faq">says</a>. “While remaining true to J.K. Rowling’s original vision, Portkey game developers chart new territory by creating fresh ways for fans to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World.”
The game&#8217;s creators also included a supposed trans-identifying character who says at one point in the game: “I was actually a witch, not a wizard.”
But that effort wasn’t enough to assuage trans activists who don’t believe Rowling should earn any profits from her intellectual property and that, therefore, the game should not exist. Some game reviewers are hesitant to post their thoughts on the game because of the potential blowback.
TheGamer editor Stacey Henley congratulated herself for “not covering Hogwarts Legacy with a review,” and <a href="https://www.thegamer.com/games-media-failed-hogwarts-legacy-test/">argued</a> that taking an “all that matters is how fun a game is” philosophy to game reviews is “actively damaging to professional journalism.” 
GamesHub reviewer Percy Ranson, who identifies as transgender, also refused to review the game. 
“Hogwarts Legacy cannot and should not be judged solely on its own merits, because the end result of supporting this game financially and socially isn’t simply a matter of how much you’ll enjoy it, or how nostalgic it might be to experience the world of Harry Potter,” Ranson <a href="https://www.gameshub.com/news/opinions-analysis/hogwarts-legacy-does-not-deserve-to-be-reviewed-on-its-own-merits-40246/">wrote</a>.
“If you purchase this game – if you praise its qualities and encourage others to ‘support the developers’ or ‘treat yourself to a guilty pleasure’ – you are making a choice that will harm the transgender community, whether you want to admit it or not,” the review continued, also citing the example of Rowling’s potential royalty checks.
Some outlets did choose to review the game with reluctance. 
“As critics, our job is to answer the question of whether or not we find Hogwarts Legacy to be fun to play and why,” a disclaimer on the <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/hogwarts-legacy-review-harry-potter-ps5-xbox-pc">IGN review</a> says. “Whether it’s ethical to play is a separate but still very important question.”
The British pop culture website <a href="https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/hogwarts-legacy-review-3392991">NME</a> also gave Hogwarts Legacy a review while noting that it was “not an endorsement of Rowling’s opinions or comments,” while providing a link to LGBTQ charities.
Engadget senior editor Jessica Conditt wrote that it was “slightly frightening” to write the review, “knowing the condemnation I could receive.”
Ultimately, Conditt gave the game high marks and admitted that she enjoyed playing it. 
Rowling has been labeled anti-trans ever since 2019 when she tweeted her support for Maya Forstater, who lost her job for asserting that biological sex is real. Over the years she&#8217;s also been critical of the radical trans agenda, <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1470092815506063365">mocking them</a> for calling a rapist with a penis a woman and saying “people who menstruate” instead of “women.”
Because Rowling still holds Left-wing views on most issues, she&#8217;s been labeled by her opponents as a TERF, which stands for &#8220;trans-exclusionary radical feminist.&#8221;

Computer Gaming Summit Held In Germany

Trans Activists Urge Boycott Of ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Video Game Despite J.K. Rowling Not Being Involved

Trans Activists Urge Boycott Of 'Hogwarts Legacy' Video Game Despite J.K. Rowling Not Being Involved

LGBTQ

The soon to be released <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>-themed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games">video game</a> “Hogwarts Legacy” will feature the franchise’s first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a> character.
This highly anticipated open-world role-playing game is set in the 1800s Wizarding World, which was originally dreamed up by billionaire author <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jk-rowling">J.K. Rowling</a>. The new game will introduce players to the character Sirona Ryan, proprietor of the Three Broomsticks pub in Hogsmeade Village, per a report from <a href="https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/hogwarts-legacy-transgender-character-jk-rowling-harry-potter-wizarding-world-1235514416/">Variety</a>. That&#8217;s where players learn how classmates may be confused at first to find that Sirona had &#8220;transitioned.&#8221;
When the player asks Sirona about a goblin named Lodgok, the character apparently replies, “Hadn’t seen him in years when he came in a few months ago. But, he recognized me instantly. Which is more than I can say for some of my own classmates. Took them a second to realize I was actually a witch, not a wizard.”
The publication notes how this immersive game invites players to explore Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest and the surrounding Overland area as they work on spells and potions.
“Players will experience life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1800s as they embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world,” the game description says. “They will grow their magical abilities by mastering spells, brewing potions, taming magical beasts and more.”
Game creators note how Rowling was not involved with the video game’s development. 
“J.K. Rowling is not involved in the creation of the game,” the <a href="https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-us/faq">FAQ page</a> on the game’s official site says. 
“While remaining true to J.K. Rowling’s original vision, Portkey game developers chart new territory by creating fresh ways for fans to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World.”
Rowling’s non-involvement is noteworthy as she’s become an outspoken critic of left-wing gender theory and has been labeled by the Left as a “TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) for defending the rights of women. While some of the “Harry Potter” actors came to her defense, most distanced themselves from the series creator and pledged their allegiance to the pro-trans movement instead.
Despite pushback from her fanbase and the media, Rowling has stood firm in her convictions. 
“Men defining what a woman is, what women should and shouldn’t fear, what women should and shouldn’t say, what rights women should be fine with giving up and, of course, what constitutes ‘real’ misogyny: get a bloody mirror,” she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/get-a-bloody-mirror-j-k-rowling-points-out-what-real-misogyny-is-in-one-tweet">tweeted</a> recently. “That’s real misogyny, looking right back at you.”
“Hogwarts Legacy” is scheduled to launch February 10 worldwide for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will be available later in the year on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Close up of  boy holding game controller

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Video Game Includes First Transgender ‘Harry Potter’ Character: ‘J.K. Rowling Is Not Involved’

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Video Game Includes First Transgender 'Harry Potter' Character

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was <a href="https://www.gbnews.uk/news/jk-rowling-attacked-in-trans-rights-rant-on-bbc-as-broadcaster-forced-to-issue-apology/437306" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forced to apologize</a> after a guest on Evan Davis&#8217; radio show delivered an on-air rant about &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; author J.K Rowling — and he allowed the guest to make allegations without pushing back on them.
Davis was interviewing Stacey Henley, a transgender woman and editor-in-chief of video game website The Gamer, about the new Harry Potter-themed game titled &#8220;Hogwarts Legacy&#8221; and the fact that Henley&#8217;s website was refusing to post a review.
&#8220;The reason we’re not is really the fact that Harry Potter and the world that Harry Potter exhibits is just entirely connected to JK Rowling, but she has a platform that she uses to push transphobia, that she uses to build up this campaign against trans people, especially in Britain,&#8221; Henley claimed on the show that aired February 2. &#8220;Supporting this game continues to give JK Rowling a platform in which she can use to hurt people.&#8221;
Henley continued to bash <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/its-appalling-even-lord-voldemort-has-had-enough-of-the-verbal-abuse-hurled-at-j-k-rowling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rowling</a>, claiming that the idea was not to ruin anyone&#8217;s memories or enjoyment of the popular series or to tell people to burn their Harry Potter books, but at the same time arguing that any support of the author&#8217;s future endeavors would hurt transgender people.
&#8220;If something that was really special to my childhood was taken away from me because the creator suddenly outed themselves as having these quite nasty views it would be heart breaking,&#8221; Henley conceded, adding, &#8220;You’re not being asked to give up all those childhood memories. What you’re being asked to do is think of the impact of continuing to support future endeavors.&#8221;
&#8220;I do think we have to be selective with the kind of art that we support, and if it’s created by somebody who continues to use their platform and their relevance to push forward transphobia and we continue to support them that’s where the line in the sand has to be drawn,&#8221; Henley added.
Davis, after Henley had finished, offered one caveat: &#8220;Obviously, JK Rowling wouldn’t say she’s transphobic.&#8221;
Henley pushed back, however, arguing that because Rowling&#8217;s defense of biological women was vocal and very public, people had a right to judge and criticize her for having the wrong opinions.
&#8220;This comes back to this idea that if you don’t want to feel bad about buying the game or you can’t judge people. You can judge people. The information out there is for everyone. JK Rowling’s views are not secret, they’re public knowledge,&#8221; Henley declared.
After the broadcast, a spokesperson from the BBC addressed the interview, saying, &#8220;This is a difficult and contentious area which we do try very hard to cover fairly. However, we should have challenged the claims more directly and we apologize that we did not.&#8221;
Rowling has <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/get-a-bloody-mirror-j-k-rowling-points-out-what-real-misogyny-is-in-one-tweet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">often been attacked</a> for her <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/jk-rowling-fires-back-at-critics-who-called-her-transphobic-shames-detractors-for-failing-to-protect-womens-rights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defense of biological women</a> — particularly those who have been the victims of domestic and sexual abuse — saying that they needed a safe space free of biological males, regardless of their chosen &#8220;identities.&#8221;

BRITAIN-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMB

BBC Forced To Apologize To J.K. Rowling After Guest Delivers On-Air Rant Over Trans Rights

&#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/harry-potter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harry Potter</a>&#8221; alum Rupert Grint talked about his famous role of Ron Weasley and playing the character throughout most of his childhood, calling it &#8220;quite suffocating.&#8221;
During the 34-year-old actor&#8217;s interview for <a href="https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/rupert-grint-servant-knock-at-the-cabin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bustle</a> magazine, Grint talked about the difficulties of playing the role of Harry Potter&#8217;s best friend Weasley for a decade, from the age of 11 to 22.
The English actor explained how he found it hard to find where his character began and he ended.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rupert Grint says the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarryPotter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HarryPotter</a> series became “quite suffocating” because “in the movies, [Ron and I] merged into one. By the end of it, I was playing myself. The lines were blurred.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/K0djvaJFNd">https://t.co/K0djvaJFNd</a>
&mdash; Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1620464802098282496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;In the movies, we merged into one,&#8221; Grint explained. &#8220;By the end of it, I was playing myself. The lines were blurred.&#8221;
&#8220;Potter was so full on — [filming] all year, then we&#8217;d promote the rest of the time,&#8221; he added.
The &#8220;Sick Note&#8221; star said he&#8217;s very appreciative of all the opportunities the role gave him, but shared that by the time it was over, he &#8220;wanted a break to reflect on everything.&#8221;
&#8220;It was an out-of-body experience for a while, but I think we finished at the right time,&#8221; Grint said. &#8220;If we continued, it could&#8217;ve gone downhill.&#8221;
In 2022, Grint reunited with his co-stars for HBO Max&#8217;s &#8220;Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts&#8221; special, something he described as too soon, saying he wasn&#8217;t initially on board with it, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/rupert-grint-ron-weasley-harry-potter-knock-at-the-cabin-1235313380/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a> noted.
However, the actor explained that being part of the franchise itself &#8220;was a really unique experience only us core group really know, so it&#8217;s nice to see them [co-stars]. It was a good opportunity to reflect on everything and just say how crazy it was. It&#8217;s always nice to look back.&#8221;
Grint also shared that the experience he had with the &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; projects now dictates the roles he takes on, calling them &#8220;therapeutic&#8221; after taking parts for darker projects like Guillermo del Toro&#8217;s “Cabinet of Curiosities,&#8221; Apple’s &#8220;Servant,&#8221; and M. Night Shyamalan&#8217;s upcoming movie &#8220;Knock at the Cabin.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m drawn to a hidden vulnerability,&#8221; the actor shared. &#8220;A bit broken, damaged people. At the moment, it seems to be what I’m doing.&#8221;
The &#8220;Moonwalkers&#8221; star said other projects he&#8217;d be interested in could involve &#8220;something light next — like a Christmas movie.&#8221; However, Grint said he&#8217;s &#8220;happy with where I&#8217;ve ended up.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harry-potter-alum-rupert-grint-says-its-tricky-with-j-k-rowling-because-of-her-transgender-views" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;Harry Potter&#8217; Alum Rupert Grint Says It&#8217;s &#8216;Tricky&#8217; With J.K. Rowling Because Of Her Transgender Views</a>

“Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2” World Premiere – Inside Arrivals

‘Harry Potter’ Alum Calls Playing Role Of Ron Weasley ‘Quite Suffocating’

Rupert Grint Calls Playing Role Of Ron Weasley ‘Quite Suffocating’

Hollywood

Joe Rogan survived his fight with Cancel Culture. Barely. Dave Chappelle did, too, and country superstar Morgan Wallen cobbled his career back together after one errant n-word.
Author J.K. Rowling’s fight with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/get-a-bloody-mirror-j-k-rowling-points-out-what-real-misogyny-is-in-one-tweet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the authoritarian Left</a>, though, shows no signs of letting up. In fact, it might be intensifying.
The superstar first came under fire in 2020 after comments she shared on social media enraged select trans activists. She questioned the use of the phrase, “people who menstruate” instead of saying, “women.”
Her <a href="https://www.glamour.com/story/a-complete-breakdown-of-the-jk-rowling-transgender-comments-controversy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">follow-up explanation</a> generated even more rage.
“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. 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,” she said.
Rowling, a Trump critic and political progressive, suddenly became Cancel Culture fodder despite her proclamation of love for the trans community. The attacks upon her have been relentless ever since. That doesn’t always happen when the woke acolytes are upset. Social justice warriors often move on to newer targets, content to find fresh victims.
Kevin Hart lost the Oscar hosting gig in 2018 for old jokes deemed homophobic, for example, but he hasn’t come under significant fire since then.
That isn’t the case with Rowling, and in a small way she has herself to blame.
Most celebrities self-censor following Cancel Culture broadsides. Others become “allies” for the cause du jour, using their social media perches to push progressive memes and talking points.
They’ve been re-educated, or they simply fear more blowback.
Rowling hasn’t backpedaled an inch. She doesn’t comment on trans issues Twitter on a weekly basis, like director Rob Reiner comments on Trump on a near-daily basis. Still, she often fights back when faced with personal assaults and refuses to apologize for her views.
In November 2021, she shredded trans activists who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/j-k-rowling-speaks-out-after-doxxing-so-many-death-threats-i-could-paper-the-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared her home address</a> on social media, acknowledging it put her life in danger given the hate many feel for her. She put the matter into perspective, saying she receives so many death threats she could “paper the house with them.”
“Perhaps – and I’m just throwing this out there – the best way to prove your movement isn’t a threat to women, is to stop stalking, harassing and threatening us.”
Bullies usually shrink away when the victim fights back. That’s not the case with Rowling’s detractors. The Cancel Culture forces haven’t forgiven or forgotten. And their pressure campaign continues.
In recent weeks, we’ve learned of a transgender artist who literally removed Rowling’s name from the books which earned her literary immortality — the “Harry Potter” franchise.
Toronto resident Laur Flom <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/01/13/reseller-removes-j-k-rowlings-name-from-harry-potter-books/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removed Rowling’s name</a> not just from the cover of at least 30 “Potter” books, but excised her from the copyright page and titles, too. Flom resells the updated tomes for those triggered by the author’s name.
“The purpose of this project is to create a safe space for fans to find comfort in the books and critically engage with J.K. Rowling’s work,” Flom said.
The simple act of “liking” one of Rowling’s so-called problematic tweets can extend her Cancel Culture fight to new players. A “Star Wars” legend learned that personally. 
Mark Hamill, AKA Luke Skywalker, merely <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/mark-hamill-defends-liking-jk-rowling-tweet-after-liberals-erupt-twitter-no-place-nuance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">liked a Rowling tweet</a> clapping back at one of her many detractors.
“I’m more of a woman than JK Rowling will ever be,” a trans woman wrote. “Citation needed,” Rowling shot back, a message Hamill liked.
A Twitter storm engulfed the 71-year-old star, known for his socially progressive views, in short order. The <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkHamill/status/1618012349516115968" target="_blank" rel="noopener">actor quickly apologized</a> with the approved verbiage.
“What I ‘liked’ about this exchange was someone speaking their truth to power. Twitter is, unfortunately, no place for nuance. It&#8217;s imperative I make this abundantly clear: I support human rights for EVERYONE, regardless of their gender identity, PERIOD,” Hamill tweeted.
Rowling often says she has the power, and wealth, to not only speak out but ensure her public safety, to the degree that it’s possible. Others who support her work in any fashion aren’t so fortunate.
Take Kara Lynne, a video game employee who <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/video-game-company-folds-to-trans-activists-online-pressure-campaign-fires-targeted-employee/?bypass_key=R3ZMVjhXNFZiU2ZCK041NHZZV2pqZz09OjpPWEZUT1ZaMFIxUmpaRUowWVRCd2RuSlVjMXB5ZHowOQ%3D%3D%3Futm_source%3Demail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost her job</a> after sharing a modicum of support for a Harry Potter-themed game. She shared her anticipation for the upcoming “Hogwarts Legacy” video game, which has no direct ties to Rowling beyond being set in the Harry Potter universe. That declaration sent woke activists scrambling to find other problematic opinions in her social media feeds.
It worked, as a seven-year-old tweet critical of transgender bathrooms by Lynne “resurfaced.” 
Lynne was soon out of a job.
The mainstream media typically rallies behind celebrity victims, like Meghan Markle. Few outlets have rallied to Rowling’s side over the years. Instead, they often play down the death threats as well as attempts to surgically remove her name from Potter lore.
GamesRadar, for example, shared a Tweet calling Rowling’s words “<a href="https://twitter.com/LeoKearse/status/1618208288293933059/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">harmful</a>” to the trans community.
Rowling still has a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/succession-star-brian-cox-defends-j-k-rowlings-trans-stance-again-calls-her-critics-high-and-mighty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">few defenders</a> willing to say as much in the public arena. Actor Brian Cox of “Succession” fame, for example, shared his support for a law allowing trans women to change their names legally. He also derided those who have attacked Rowling for her views, perhaps indirectly referencing “Harry Potter” alums Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe. Both have been highly critical of the woman who made them rich and famous.
“I don’t like the way she’s been treated, actually … I think she’s entitled to her opinion; she’s entitled to say what she feels,” Cox said. As a woman, she’s very much entitled to say what she feels about her own body, and there’s nobody better to say that, as a woman.”
Cox is outspoken on many subjects, including his distaste for Cancel Culture. So far, he hasn’t been forced to apologize, a la Hamill, for his views.
If more Rowling defenders do the same, the pressure facing the British author may finally ebb.
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News&#8217; Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

‘It Isn’t Hate To Speak The Truth’: Why J.K. Rowling Remains Woke Public Enemy No. 1

'It Isn’t Hate To Speak The Truth': Why J.K. Rowling Remains Woke Public Enemy No. 1

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