Last week, J.K. Rowling sparked backlash for anti-trans tweets, where she took issue with an editorial using the phrase "people who menstruate," instead of women.
‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate https://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA
People swiftly called out the author on Twitter for being anti-trans and for bringing this up during the global Black Lives Matter movement:
@jk_rowling What happens when women enter menopause? What about women who had hysterectomies? Women who don't menstruate because of hormonal issues? Are they not women? Nothing you say stops trans women from being women.
@jk_rowling WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLACK LIVES MATTER UPRISING AND YOU FEEL LIKE THIS??? IS THE TIME TO GO ON A TRANSPHOBIC SCREED ABOUT BIOLOGICAL GENDER?????? HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT RESPECT
And so did celebrities:
1. Emma Watson:
I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.
2. Daniel Radcliffe:
"Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people, and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I," he said in a statement to the Trevor Project.
3. Rupert Grint:
"Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment. I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers," he told BBC.
4. Drag performer Peppermint:
"J.K. Rowling is a writer, someone who knows how to use language and the pen. Every single post, every single tweet comes off as innocent and unassuming, but it's extremely calculated. J.K. knows exactly what she's trying to say and knows exactly what she's trying to do. And now we know exactly who she is. What I won't allow her to do is to insert her ignorance on this situation," Peppermint told Entertainment Tonight.
5. Sarah Paulson:
Word. Goodnight and shut up @jk_rowling https://t.co/Cz0U6EmPfj
6. Eddie Redmayne:
“As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand,” he told Variety. “I disagree with Jo’s comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid. I would never want to speak on behalf of the community but I do know that my dear transgender friends and colleagues are tired of this constant questioning of their identities, which all too often results in violence and abuse. They simply want to live their lives peacefully, and it’s time to let them do so.”
7. King Princess:
8. Indya Moore:
“I think she’s speaking from this place of just sheer stupidity. I mean, it’s just so dumb. She’s not even understanding how much death and violence are behind all of those opinions that she’s sharing on social media right now. Like she’s contributing to so much violence through her airing out her thoughts and ideas and opinions. She’s contributing to a stigma that is continuing to take our lives today," they told Variety.
9. Whitney Cummings:
All these trans friends JK Rowlings says she has must be exhausted
10. Mary Lambert:
@jk_rowling You have power and influence. Why would you do this? What does it achieve? Do you feel like more of a woman when you punch down? Are you threatened? Some trans men menstruate. Why does that affect you? Why do you want to police that?
11. Kim Petras:
Ok jk rowling just lit rally the devil . none of that shit is even real . it’s all twisted -_— oooof
12. Jameela Jamil:
@jk_rowling Hey JK as you claim to support trans rights and this is a historical moment where we are globally discussing the impact of white supremacy on Black People, please share some of your $650million mega wealth with this charity. https://t.co/3WoGduRuSE
13. Halsey:
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.”
14. Tegan and Sara:
If you are a TERF and following us, please fuck off and unfollow us.
TERF is a trans-exclusionary radical feminist.
15. Drag performer Monét Xchange:
Fuck yo wand, fuck yo magic! #jkrowling
16. Jonathan Van Ness:
Trans women are women. Trans Black people & trans non-Black people are discriminated against every single day. They’re dying. We’re fighting for Black people & trans people and you’re doing this? https://t.co/2l5PHDCpKD