J.K. Rowling Returns Human Rights Award After Denouncement Of Her Trans Views
J.K. Rowling publicized that she will be returning her award from the Kennedy family, after being criticized for her opinion on trans and gender issues.
Rowling received the “Ripple of Hope” honor award last year from the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Association.
President of the association, Kerry Kennedy, said that Rowling “diminished the identity” of trans people.
The award was presented this past December to someone who has expressed a “commitment to social change.” Rowling received this award for her dedication to her children’s charity, Lumos.
However, Rowling tweeted in June about her beliefs on gender identity.
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.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Kennedy believed that Rowling’s tweet and additional comments degraded the LGBT community as well as their life experiences.
Rowling’s “attacks upon the transgender community are inconsistent with the fundamental beliefs and values of RFKHR and represent a repudiation of my father’s vision,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy believes that sex is not binary and that Rowling has used her “remarkable gifts to create a narrative that diminishes the identity of trans and nonbinary people, undermining the validity and integrity of the entire transgender community”.
Rowling then released a statement on her website in response to Kennedy saying, “Kerry Kennedy recently felt it necessary to publish a statement denouncing my views.”
“The statement incorrectly implied that I was transphobic and that I am responsible for harm to trans people,” she added. “I absolutely refute the accusation.”
Due to the controversy that had surfaced, Rowling decided it was in her best interest to return her award to RFKHR.
“In solidarity with those who have contacted me but who are struggling to make their voices heard, and because of the very serious conflict of views between myself and RFKHR, I feel I have no option but to return the Ripple of Hope Award.”
Rowling’s full statement can be read here.
#IStandWithJKRowling is currently trending on Twitter for Rowling’s decision to return the award to RFKHR. Many disappointed fans are tweeting about how they agree with her choice to give back the award.
#IStandWithJKRowling is trending and it feels like a good time to point out that numerous studies around the world reveal that 30-50% of trans kids have attempted suicide
I can tell you from my experience that the way we choose to discuss trans people in public has a real impact
— Paris Lees (@parislees) August 28, 2020
One of the most successful fiction authors is now seeing how her controversial views can affect her book sales. Harry Potter series book sales have been struggling, as the rest of the book industry has been booming.
