Has the movement for trans rights become too aggressive, and even dangerous? That’s the argument put forth by ‘Harry Potter’ creator J.K. Rowling in a new blog post called “TERF wars.”
Rowling writes that government policies intended to protect transgender folks could unintentionally prove harmful to children, and could make public women's restrooms and locker rooms unsafe, among other concerns.
She also argues that trans rights activists have become militant and extreme, prone to harassing anyone who disagrees with them, and eager to label lesbian women and feminists as “TERFs” (which stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist).
Is Sex Real?
The best-selling author behind the beloved wizarding book series has made headlines several times in recent months for voicing her controversial opinions on trans issues.
Rowling’s latest foray into the issue of trans rights began last week when she took issue with the phrase “people who menstruate” and posted on Twitter mocking the wording:
That message ignited a firestorm of criticism. But instead of backing down, Rowling pushed on, asserting that biological sex differences exist and that ignoring them risks “erasing” women.
Harry Shoots Back
Rowling’s comments were broadly criticized across social media and in the press, with numerous condemnations from high profile celebrities such as Eddie Redmayne.
But easily the most striking rebukes came from the only names more closely associated with the Harry Potter series than Rowling is – the actors who played her characters. Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry Potter in the movies, joined the chorus of voices renouncing Rowling’s views. In a response published on the Trevor Project website, he wrote:
"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 (Rowling) or I."
Emma Watson, who played Hermione in the series, had this to say:
Not Backing Down
That brings us back to Rowling’s latest blog post, in which she made it clear she’s not going to budge on the issue. If anything, her views appear to be more ingrained than ever before – despite many a "Voldemort" comparison made on the internet. In Rowling’s eyes, the trans rights movement poses an existential threat to feminism by changing the definition of what it means to be a woman, and potentially putting biological women in harm’s way through well-intentioned policies that could be exploited.
Of course, there are many, many voices on the opposite side of this issue who say this is plain nonsense. A trans woman who wants to identify as a woman is harming nobody, and allowing them to live their truth is just basic human decency, trans rights allies argue. Why should we deny anyone that dignity? they ask.
Where do you stand? Are Rowling’s concerns worth considering, or do they amount to overblown fearmongering?
99 comments
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Krystina S.
My family believes that it is best to be tolerant ("Teach Tolerance" is a curriculum.) My parents, in their 80s, have no problem with others' genders. Before Covid, my elderly mom came out of the bathroom beaming: "I think there was a trans woman in the bathroom!" She was happy that, (especially in notorious North Carolina), she was able to show support with her votes and with her minimal, positive contact with people she supports as full citizens. My parents went to Juilliard- as they say: "Where would the Arts be without gay teachers?" (even back in the day) who cared about them, respected, protected and nurtured them, through their education and careers. I am just giving you a snapshot of elderly rich white people you would think of as negative or "afraid" of a trans person "in the bathroom with them." Nothing could be farther from the truth. Bigotry and close-mindedness come in many forms. Religion far too often gives us a "reason" to demonstrate bigotry and intolerance towards "others." While my elderly parents do not "understand" or "comprehend" gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gender non-conforming people, this does not mean that they cannot be allies, supporting the fullness of their rights and their ability to live without bigotry and fear. I am just making a point that hasn't seemed to be made yet: every human being can grow and develop in their understanding of others, everyone can have compassion, everyone can support full equality. The bathroom/locker room issue is just spurious- people come in all shapes and sizes. And that's okay. Unless you ASSUME that people who are trans are assaultive, which is bigotry- and not supported in any way. It's just that YOU are uncomfortable. And if my 87 year old mom can be happy with trans people in the bathroom, perhaps you can rethink YOUR inappropriate stance. Jesus said to LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. That's IT. Anything else is UnChristlike. If you are of that faith. My mom's an athiest, so she just has her sense of Justice and Fairness to guide her.
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Richard Lee Cornell
Your daughter wants to say she is a male. Oh! Yes! I have no problem with that. The gay guys do not have a problem with that either. When it is shower time she (he) can shower with them. Just do not drop the soap.
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Michael S Cope
An apple is an apple. In nature there needs to ba a male plant and a female plant for things to grow. If you do not think I'm correct. Find the evidence to prove otherwise. Animals need a male and female to continue the species If you think I'm wrong, use facts to prove me wrong. Humans are different. They tend to be stupid. Believing they can change nature to what they want. It's all about greed. It's what THEY want and to hell with any other thought. I say, leave them alone and they will either adapt to natural nature or die. It will be their choice. All non conformists do. Be they animal or human. Prove me wrong with facts. Not emotions.
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John Condron
Actually, Michael, since you are making assertions, it is your job to provide proof for those assertions. That's how logic works.
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Robert Duff
A dandelion is a dandelion which does not need a male plant to grow more dandelions.
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David L Schamehorn
I really do not think she understood how to answer question correctly after all she has hintrf that Dumbledore was gay. also if you remember Rons sister was going with a person of color. Not to mention harry's crush on Chou. then you have Ron And harry's dates in the gobblet of fire the Indian twins. It stands to reason if JK was comfortable and understanding of all gender and interracial relationships why would she be uncomfortable with transgenders. I think with what is going on in the world today people are over sensitive and ready to jump to the wrong conclusions. Getting back to basics even though i think she was taken out of con texted we should remember it is not our place to judge that duty is gods and no one else with the exception when laws of man are broken IE murder child molestation and so on. the sis of the spirit and of the mind is strictly his domain. We all need to pray and ask for guidance during thees uneasy times and not be to quick to jump on someone eases band wagon. bless you all and may you have the strength and spirit the whether this storm
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Universal life Church is not a Christian sect, but is an inter-faith ministry made up of Minister's of all religions, spiritualities,band life paths. Your kind of ministry is not common among us, and is not one that I favor, but you belong here just as much as the rest of us, Scot Singley, to which I say "Welcome, brother." However, if you try to force your beliefs on us you won't last long around here.
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Scott Singley
Lol. Well.... I'm a minister that believes God's law. I teach Jesus Christ, him crucified, water baptism in his name for the remission of sins, baptism in the holy ghost and with fire, and finally...EVERYTHING the Spirit you have in you has to convict, rebuke, and exhort you to OBEY God's word.
In JK's defense...I'm actually shocked she took a stand for women on this. I cannot defend homosexuality, gender politics, transgenderism, or any other LGBTQRSTUVWXYZ propaganda because that compromises my faith.
If Universal Life Church has an issue respecting my convictions then feel free to unordain me but GOD chose me to stand up against sin and especially THE CHURCH. Its full of hypocrisy and most of its works are REPROBATE. ;)
Titus 1:16 KJV They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
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David Arthur Lewis
Seriously people?!? This is the woman who killed Dumbledore!
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Charles Richard Merlin McCracken
1.) not all persons are American, so 1st amendment does not apply 2.) 1st Amendment ONLY applies to the US Government, specifically :Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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Lynda Louisse Dickerson
Why is JK Rowling so passionate about trans issues? Is he a transman in denial? Why the "JK" instead of a female name? Is that because he doesn't identify as female?
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Richard Lee Cornell
There goes my chance in sports. Back to being a loser. My fem side got me into sports so when I ran against real women I always won. Now that is all over. I wonder if I can still take showers with the girls. I do love washing each other backs. A male who says I'm female gets to take showers with the girls. The girl who wants to say she is a male can take a shower with the guys. Now it becomes interesting.
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SisterVoicesSpeaking
Speaking from TransExperience,
I understand her opinion, and many other woman who have the same opinion on gender Identity. For J. k. Rowling, she stands correct, biological sex is fixed, your physically born male or female. There is a science theory that it is so important, pregnant mothers should have an organic diet, preferably plant based. We as a nation were blind to what the FDA and other agencies were doing to our food, lively hood- etc. Massive amounts of hormones have been used to keep the demands of our food system. Testosterone a hormone that is widely used to steadily and quickly grow cattle and live stock- even some plant life. A pregnant mother who consumes large amounts of non organic foods puts her fetus at risk of what's known as testosterone wash. A female fetus is exposed to large amounts of testosterone from food and alcohol, the female child gets and overload of the hormone, the pituitary gland shuts down, the brain begins to develop masculine. The child may feel masculine and or lesbian The same for male fetus.. Science has proven that hormone levels play a major role in gender identity, In conclusion one maybe born in a physical gender, The brain may, by default of exposure to hormone unbalance, may very well be another gender. Which with mental health counseling and hormone replacement, and surgery can give that person an authentic life. I do feel that women have the right to feel safe. I do think there should be more gender neutral bathrooms. Women have the right to demand not to be in the restroom with transwomen, who are new to there transition and or who may be gender non conforming. We are in a country where we have laws and order, we must have a balance, the balance can be accomplished simply by adding gender neutral bathrooms. Vice versa for Men. They also have the right use the rest room with only men, not because it is wrong to be trans, Female to male trans people could experience a sexual crime. You can not erase gender, and all the fights men and women fought for this country. You can however introduce and learn to understand a new gender, transgender. Trans people also have to learn to accept truth, there is beauty in being a woman in all her glory, and there is beauty in being a transwoman in all her beauty. You do not have to merge the two. Third gender is it's on gender. My only personal opinion is, if you do transition, seek mental health counseling, make sure your decision is healthy and base on true identity and not on an idea. Minister Valdez- Male to female transsexual woman.
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Ruberita Bandihai
She is right in many ways and I’m glad she is not backing up. We have to stop threatening each other and have an healthy dialogue.
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Michele Geyer
(Ideally), all humans have the same rights.
Identifying any one group or philosophy as more special or less-than, making aggressive demands for that group for any reason, in any context, is not only oppositional, it victimizes both (or all) groups.
In the purest sense of acceptance, JK Rowling is speaking truth—to over-accentuate any group’s rights is to empower the polarization, emboldening the fight, and leans toward annihilation of the other.
What if we just accept all groups and choices as equal and righteous...without the “fight for rights” aspect?
What if we simply don’t polarize anything?
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Steven Smith
All fear is mongering. Fear is a negative emotion or energy, created by negative people Martin Luther King practiced peace. The Buddha taught peace through mindfulness. Jesus taught peace through love. Lao Tse taught peace through non-attachment, even Mohammed taught peace. So with all these great wise people, do we still hate each other so much. "People are people, so why should it be, that you and I get along so awfully. I can't understand, what makes a man hate another man." -Depeshe Mode
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Steven Smith
I apologise that people are so intolerant of each other. Especially from religious groups who's philosophies are based on love and peace, but have caused the most deaths in history. All that death over mythology, it is sad. Love is love is love. Love is God. God is love. For love is of God, so let us learn to love one another, though we may disagree with each other's opinions, let us respect each other. Do as you will but harm none. With perfect love and perfect trust, so mote it be.
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Minister Mike
So, what's the sh*t storm about? People who menstruate are genetic women - all of 'em. Not all genetic women menstruate, though. People in menopause, people who can't because of medical conditions, etc. I didn't read the comment as anti-alphabet (LGBT and other letters used to identify gender issues). I did read it as an attempt to ridicule other cultures in which (genetic and other) women's health issues are seldom, if ever, discussed openly - to the detriment of the women and their societies.
So, yeah, she made an insensitive remark and might deserve to have the reasons it is seen as insensitive pointed out, bur, lordy! Turn off the rhetoric. We have real issues to deal with.
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John Condron
Is it possible, Mike, that you don't see this as a "real issue" because it doesn't directly affect you? Could this be an example of cis-privilege? Before you say "no," remember that by definition privilege is something of which we are initially unaware. (and if you don't know what "cis" means, I would say the answer to my question is a resounding "yes." Here's an article that might help: https://www.itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2014/05/dear-white-straight-cisgender-men-privilege/).
I can guarantee you that this issue is "real" to people who identify as transgender, who are 3.32 times as likely to experience police violence and 2.46 more likely to experience some form of physical violence than other groups.
Here is a list of specific people who could tell you just how "real" this issue is. Unfortunately, they cannot speak for themselves as they are all dead! https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-transgender-community-in-2019
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Minister Mike
Nope, not possible, John. So, you're wrong, again. Your line of blarney, though, is wonderful obfuscation that has nothing to do with Rowlings' comment.
See, I have a trans brother, a gay sister, a straight brother, and numerous long-time good friends in the alphabet community for whom I'd put my life on the line. There is no doubt in my mind they would do the same for me. But bigots like you? Probably not so much, from any of us.
So, stuff your links somewhere else, get off your behind, and get out there and do something positive and stop finding faults where none exist in people you don't know a thing about.
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John Condron
If you say so, Mike. Saying "I have a trans brother, a gay sister, a straight brother, and numerous long-time good friends in the alphabet community" reminds me of people who would say things like "Some of my best friends are... (fill in the blank)." (BTW: Exactly how is a straight brother part of the "alphabet community," Mike?)
Like you, I have friends and relatives in the LGBTQ+ community. More importantly, I am a member of that community myself. I have been on the boards of several organizations advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. I don't know anyone in that community who would ever refer to it as "the alphabet community." That sounds pretty damn dismissive, Mike. Also, your original suggestion that this is not a "real issue" is pretty telling.
You can name-call all you want, Mike, but it won't change a thing.
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Gary James Thomas Garrett
Not all women menstruate. So if health services are being offered concerning menstruation shouldn't they be offered to "all" that have concerns or questions about it? There may be men that have questions. Somehow I view health education as valuable to all people and this is not right how? Maybe we should deal with it the way the Bible says to; have the unclean woman stay outside in the barn with the rest of the animals until she's done with her period.
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Minister Mike
Did you look at the photo accompanying Rowlings remarks? Men and women partaking of the education.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
I gotta say. The topic is a difficult one for me. We've reached a point of does the science of biology or the science of psychology decide someone's sex? For the longest time, I stood with biology. It made the most sense to me. That for a person to think that they were trans, meant that there was a psychological glitch. A few years ago, when all of this trans "stuff" really hit the public eye - I found out that an older woman that I've known an respected for over a decade; had been born a guy. That got me thinking, "Is my opinion wrong"? A few months ago, a guy friend that I've known over half my life. Someone that I thought of as a brother, came out to me that he's trans - a woman trapped in a guys body. I love and respect these two people. There are hundreds, I don't know, maybe thousands just like them. Do I have the right to respect just these two peoples beliefs and not the rest? As a minister, how do I best serve them? Certainly not by ridiculing them or telling them that they're wrong. Sure this is complicated, and maybe painful; but so is all change. Trans people are here and just like with heterosexuals or homosexuals, they didn't choose this. Biology did. There's no changing any of us. We need to embrace all the various peoples, for what they are; we'll figure out sports and who uses what bathroom later.
Blessed be
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Brandy Mearnic
For those who are turning blind eyes and deaf ears on this subject let me interpret for you what she was meaning. She said that all women mentruate even transwomen and she said that women even transwomen should be able to decide if they want to bear children or not and not allow a government to make that decision.
Hopefully people will listen to media properly and read articles properly on J.K. Rowling from now on.
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John Condron
Ummm... no, Brandy. Transgender women to not menstruate, because that would take the contruction of implantation of a uterus; in fact, many, many cisgender women do not menstruate. And yes, it is theoretically possible to transplant a uterus into a previously male body, but it would be prohibitively expensive. If you are aware of a single case of a transgender woman bearing a child, I would love to hear about it.
JK Rowling wrote a series of books I really enjoyed, but she is not a gender scientist.
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Gail Gordon
This debate is much more vitriolic in the UK. It isn't talked about as much in the US. Some of the issues raised are around who gets to define "woman" and what terms are used. Recently, The Body Shop referred to "Menstruators" in an effort to be inclusive to transgender men. Some women dislike being referred to as bodily functions, and I can understand why. We don't want to be called bleeders. It's offensive. We are not our bodily functions. The problem is that we don't really have inclusive language that everybody can agree on yet. Another issue is access to women's spaces. For example, women's domestic violence and rape crisis shelters. Certainly transwomen are victims of domestic violence and rape, no doubt, but other women, also victims, want a safe space where they can go and not be in the presence of "men" of any kind, and that includes male body parts. A traumatized rape victim doesn't care if the 6 foot, 200 pound bearded person with a penis in the shelter, sleeping on the cot next to her, identifies as a woman or not. The traumatized rape victim just wants to feel safe, and she can't feel safe next to someone she perceives as dangerous, no matter how that person dresses or identifies. Yet another controversial issue is that transwomen are very hostile about the issue of the "cotton ceiling." (Google it). Transwomen feel it is transphobic for lesbian women to reject transwomen as "viable sexual partners."They reject the idea that maybe lesbians just aren't attracted to make genitalia, no matter who it's attached to. They feel it's hateful to reject transwomen outright for having a penis. There is a whole of lot of hostility and lots of threats like "punch a terf" etc. on the web directed toward lesbians who won't date transwomen. On top of all that, we could get into long debates about whether gender is real, or just a social construct and a set of behaviors. Sex is real, we can "see" it under a microscope in our chromosomes, which can't change. Sex is innate. Gender is fluid. Sex is biology; Gender is sociology. If gender is a "feeling" inside, how can someone born a man really know what it "feels like" to be a woman, or vice versa? It all comes down to supporting equal rights for transgendered persons, which I do. I'm beginning to think this issue is sort of like religion. Everyone can practice whatever they choose, so long as they don't hurt anyone else, but no one can make anyone else believe as they do, and we all just have to respect each other's right to believe - or not - and live according to that belief, but not try to force our beliefs on others.
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Shoshana Tso Savyon
I agree with her in that the movement has become way too militant and pushy. They are aggressively pushing their agenda on the heterosexual community. This has on many occasions infringed on the rights of the heterosexual community, particularly those who prefer their children to have the ability to just grow up as free and innocent children with no pressure or exposure to any form of sexuality, gender issues and such.
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Gary James Thomas Garrett
I don't possibly understand how children can grow up free and innocent with no pressure or exposure to any form of sexuality or gender issues. Becoming sexually aware is a natural part of growing up. At some point you have to have "the talk", and just wait until they get to be teenagers! I get tired of aggressive heterosexual community pushing it's agenda on me.
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John Condron
Shosana, Transgender women experience far greater levels of violence, including murder, than ciswomen. That is a fact. The transgender community is victimized by what you call the "heterosexual community" on a regular basis. The only way any victimized minority community has ever moved itself toward parity is by being "militant and pushy." That is how women got the vote. That is how blacks got the vote and are trying to get cops to stop murdering them.
But before you throw around words like "militant," perhaps you should look it up in the dictionary. It means "engaged in warfare or combat" or "aggressively active." When was the last time you saw news coverage of a transgender man or woman attacking a member of the poor, beleaguered "heterosexual community?"
One more thing, Shosana. The Public Religion Research Institute conducted a poll of 2,314 millennials in 2015. They found that 1% identified as transgender. That doesn't sound like all that many, does it? Only one percent. But that means that between 1981 and 1996, 920,000 children were born transgender. I can tell you that many of those children had to sort out these "sexuality, gender issues and such" for themselves, with little to no help from their parents, teachers or even their doctors. Should the current generation of children have to do the same thing, just so you can maintain the fantasy that children "just grow up as free and innocent children with no pressure or exposure to any form of sexuality, gender issues and such?"
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Amber Fry
I think everyone has a right to identify as whatever they see fit as long as they are not doing anything to harm anyone else. However there is a medical concern here. There have been people not divulging their birth gender and ending up with serious medical repercussions for it. As far as I'm concerned that is between a doctor and the Transgender to work out but generally speaking should not be ignored in all this. A true strength in any individual's convictions is in living their life as they see fit and respecting others enough not to take away their right to do the same so long as they are not trying to force others to do the same or harming others in the process.
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Elizabeth Allyn Smith
Sounds like a lot of judging to me, folks. I may not understand it, but it is not my place to judge, only to love and accept, and do no harm.
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Michelle Bella Dellaca
https://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sex-redefined-the-idea-of-2-sexes-is-overly-simplistic1/
https://massivesci.com/articles/sex-gender-intersex-transgender-identity-discrimination-title-ix/
https://www.joshuakennon.com/the-six-common-biological-sexes-in-humans/
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Gill Cooper
Men who trans to women do not menstruate. Biologically only the female gender menstruate. Women who trans to men normally have female genitalia removed so they don't menstruate as they themselves see it as a female trait. I would be very worried if a trans woman chose to keep her male parts and was using female or childrens changing rooms I would be askiing why. Every person has the right to live as which ever gender they feel themselves to be but everyone also has the right to feel safe in same sex environments. Any trans persin who has completely transed should be allowed to use their new gender environment. People who have not completely transed should make other arrangements. J K was merely stating a biological fact, it was not in any way anti trans
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Gill Cooper
Men who trans to women do not menstruate. Biologically only the female gender menstruate. Women who trans to men normally have female genitalia removed so they don't menstruate as they themselves see it as a female trait. I would be very worried if a trans woman chose to keep her male parts and was using female or childrens changing rooms I would be askiing why. Every person has the right to live as which ever gender they feel themselves to be but everyone also has the right to feel safe in same sex environments. Any trans persin who has completely transed should be allowed to use their new gender environment. People who have not completely transed should make other arrangements. J K was merely stating a biological fact, it was not in any way anti trans
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Liliana Mckinzey Winningham
Some people can not afford to have surgeries to change their genitalia. Some trans women, despite wanting to have surgeries, may not be able to due to issues with insurance, lack of funds, or a variety of other issues I am not well versed in. I myself likely will not be able to fully transition from female to male because of problems with money, and because I couldn’t do the recovery time if I wanted to keep my head above water with work and again, financially. The way that Rowling was making her points was, in the very least, incredibly rude. Yes, you can’t erase biological sex, but you can modify the physical and plenty of the internal to get closer to your desired self.
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John Condron
Well, Gill. Quite a few women do not menstruate. Do women stop being women when they reach menopause? How about women who suffer from amenorrhea? Do you want to take away their membership in the women's club? What do women become when they stop menstruating? Men? But wait... wouldn't that be a transition? It's all so confusing!
Also, as pointed out by Liliana, many women who transition to male do not undergo the very expensive medical procedures to transition. This is not always because of cost, though. One transgendered man I know kept his uterus and ovaries because he thought he might choose to have children sometime in the future (it's a brave new world, Gill!).
I am fascinated by your statement that you "would be very worried if a trans woman chose to keep her male parts and was using female or childrens (sic) changing rooms." Why is that? Do you have information on which to base that "worry;" or is it just the product of anti trans bias? I am aware of many cases where transgender women have been assaulted in women's restrooms; but I have never heard of a single case in which a genuinely transgendered woman has assaulted anyone. Have you? Can you document such?
I'm glad to hear that you think that "every person has the right to live as which ever gender they feel themselves to be," but am curious as to who you think has the right to determine whether "any trans person has completely (transitioned)" so they "should be allowed to use their new gender environment." Are you ready to submit to examinations every time you want to use the restroom? Or perhaps we could use tattoos, like the Nazis did?
Perhaps we could instead adopt a "live and let live" attitude and stop "solving" non existent and imaginary problems.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Have y'all noticed the way J.K.Rowling is holding her head down in the picture? Could she be trying to hide her Adam's apple? I've never heard of women using initials for their first names. I bet they stand for something like John Kenneth, or James Kevin.
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Gary James Thomas Garrett
Women writers have always been discriminated against, especially if they write fiction. Mary Shelly could not get her book published unless she said her husband wrote it, D.C. Fontana was the lead writer on the original Star Trek, she had to use initials because it wasn't acceptable for a women to write science fiction. Even Little Women had publishing pushback because it was written by woman (ironic hunh?). J.K. may have first published with her initials because of this history of discrimination against women authors.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I had a third cousin, Dorothy Bettencourt Elfstrom, who for very many years was known as poet laureate of the Southwest. I have some of her books that she autographed for me.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
What they really need to do is come out of the closet!
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John Condron
"They," Carl? And who are you to say what "they" really need to do? Do you have some special knowledge of "their" circumstances?
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arawngraalrd
So, when discussing Trans-Women and Trans-Men, do you mean Women who dress as Men, or Men who dress as Women? I'm always left confused on this point. Gender isn't the only Transvestism, btw; Aspies are College Teacher Souls in Children Bodies and, as a Bain Sidhe of ancient Gaul, I'd been a Psycho-Pomp in Mortal Form.
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John Condron
Wow, "arawngraalrd!" I suppose you could have done a bit of research before demonstrating how little you know about this topic, but at least you asked!
What you refer to as "trans-women" and "trans-men" are typically referred to as "transgendered people." "Transgender" is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. People under the transgender umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms - including "transgender" or "trans." "Transexual" is an older term that has fallen out of common use, but is still preferred by some people who have changed their bodies through medical interventions.
"Transvestism" is another older term that has fallen out of common usage and is actually considered offensive in the LGBTQ+ culture. The preferred term "cross-dresser," which is typically used to refer to men who occasionally wear clothes, makeup, and accessories culturally associated with women. Those men typically identify as heterosexual (that is, most cross-dressers are NOT gay). This activity is a form of gender expression and not done for entertainment purposes. Cross-dressers do not wish to permanently change their sex or live full-time as women. Obviously, women can "cross-dress," as well, but this seems to be more culturally accepted.
Another potentially useful bit of terminology is "Gender Non-Conforming." This is used to describe some people whose gender expression is different from conventional expectations of masculinity and femininity. Not all gender non-conforming people identify as transgender; nor are all transgender people gender non-conforming. Many people have gender expressions that are not entirely conventional – that fact alone does not make them transgender. Many transgender men and women have gender expressions that are conventionally masculine or feminine. Simply being transgender does not make someone gender non-conforming. The term is not a synonym for transgender or transsexual and should only be used if someone self-identifies as gender non-conforming.
Other terms include "Non-binary" and "genderqueer." These are used by some people who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as falling outside the binary categories of "man" and "woman." They may define their gender as falling somewhere in between man and woman, or they may define it as wholly different from these terms. The term is not a synonym for transgender or transsexual and should only be used if someone self-identifies as non-binary and/or genderqueer.
I guess the point here is that people should be free to define their own sexuality, without people throwing around pathologizing language like "transvestite" or "transexual;" especially without knowing what they really mean.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
There are transvestites who dress like the opposite gender, but also transsexuals who have sex change operations, and there are also hermaphrodites, who were born with genetalia of both genders, more or less, and I even new one very masculine man with all the right parts seemingless, but produced ovums, so he was considered a hermaphrodites. And some of them too identify as trans.
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Philip Joseph Ryan
Why are radical feminists so strident and aggressive over issues that they perceive as undermining their cause? Their anger is blinding them, and preventing them feeling any compassion. They ought to try hating less, and understanding more.
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Daniel Gray
Rowling is stating fact. you are born a specific sex and thats what you are till the day you die. And no matter how many items you have cut off or turned inside out or added, its not going to change the fact that you are either born male or female and there is no switching it.
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shane hawkins
Fortunately you're wrong there is science to back up transgender from the studies that I have done research on about transgender people their brain chemistry is is the sex that they identify with so if they were born a biological male their brain chemistry is female and if they were born a biological female their brain chemistry is male
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Daniel Gray
what scientific proof? If you were born with a "dongle" then you are male and nothing is going to change that. You can have as many operations as you want but inside your body you are still male. Keep trying child as you cant prove what you are claiming
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
You know, this isn't exactly a scientific journal, or a court of law, Danny child child. By far most of us are only stating our opinions, despite the fact that opinions are like assholes. We all have one and they all stink. Nevertheless child, you can't have your pudding before you eat your meat.[Protein before carbohydrates.]
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Jennifer Rebecca Lovsey
Do just sthu you bigoted dimwit.
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Daniel Gray
oh so you now get mad because both science and medicine are calling you a liar?
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Dennis Wayne Starr
And what study is that? It is easy to make a blanket statement without anything to back it up. And to add insult, you can always find some insignificant vague, study by someone with an agenda to claim what their agenda is valid. We know that as an embryo forms, the genitalia specializes into either male or female. One is determined by science (God or supreme deity if you prefer) and the other is by choice or even the environment. Some may chose for "feeling" of safety , security or hiding from their own reality. In any case it is usually a choice. It is like the dog that pooped on the floor and the owner beat the dog and threw it out the window. What did the dog learn but to poop and jump out the window.
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Daniel Gray
try over 1000 years of medical science. And if you believe otherwise then please tell me exactly how you can be a girl but born with boy parts. Sorry but if you try that then the noise you hear will be every medical doctor and student and nurse laughing at you
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John Condron
Actually, no, Daniel. It is not a "fact" that "you are born a specific sex and thats (sic) what you are till the day you die." According to a review of medical literature from 1955 to 1998, in 1% of births, babies are born with bodies that differ from standard male or female; one or two in 1000 people receive surgery to “normalize” genital appearance. In other words, intersex people have been around at least since 1955 (I would argue forever); it is only recently that we have recognized them. You are surely entitled to your own opinion; but not to your own facts.
Blackless, Melanie, Anthony Charuvastra, Amanda Derryck, Anne Fausto-Sterling, Karl Lauzanne, and Ellen Lee. 2000. How sexually dimorphic are we? Review and synthesis. American Journal of Human Biology 12:151-166.
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Daniel Gray
Sorry but I looked for your "source" and not surprisingly it was nowhere to be found on google or NexusLexus.
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John Condron
Wow, Daniel. You must be quite the researcher! It took me about 15 seconds to copy and paste my source into Google Scholar to obtain this link: https://europepmc.org/article/med/12552585
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
What about Wikipedia, child?
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Daniel Gray
Oh you mean the site that had its own "owner" get caught trying to puff up his bio? Or the site that not one college or university in the US will allow you to use as a source because it can be edited to say whatever the editor wants it to say? So if you get caught using this as a source in any college or university you will receive a failing grade on your paper? Or do you mean the site that still to this day says Steven Segal is a police officer and land owner in Louisiana when not one of the parish sheriffs or the department of taxation will confirm this and have actually said that he isnt and never was either. You mean that wikipedia site child?
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Steven Smith
What about hermaphrodites? Don't they have a say or rights. Oh, I forgot. Doctors play God and cut off or so up whatever gender they deem necessary.
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Daniel Gray
this is usually corrected when they are born and the parents make the decision as to what sexual part is more developed. Try again
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Jennifer Rebecca Lovsey
LOL, no she's not. She's just another rich idiot who has put her foot in her mouth one too many times.
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Daniel Gray
she is stating fact and its backed up by medicine and science. So it seems the only one placing their foot in their mouth is the one that looks back at you from your morning mirror
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Jean Bakula
It's pretty common for newborns to be born without a specific sex, and easiest to make them women. It's easier to make a vagina than a penis. So there are people who have literally been made the wrong sex. Just as people think they WERE born the wrong sex. If they feel more comfortable being the opposite sex, or being called "they",. I doubt they want to hurt children in bathrooms. They probably are tired of being killed and attacked there themselves and want protection.
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Master Wolf KSC
JK Rowling is not a gender-studies expert. She seems to be parroting a right-wing talking point that was going round and round in the states for the last few years. The talking points she’s making have their basis in fear, not fact.
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Susan Claire Schloeder
Everyone has the right to be who they are. Tell me though, will a transgender person's DNA test show the new gender or gender at birth?
Also, what's wrong with the word RESTROOM on doors? I find the signs with the male picture, female picture and 1/2 male/female picture ridiculous and offensive. There used to be unisex restrooms....not gender neutral. Gender neutral sounds like no gender at all.
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Michelle Bella Dellaca
Actually, a DNA test isn’t going to tell you much of anything. The structure of a persons DNA is made up of their parent strands and have all aspects from both parents, as such, both dominate expressed genes and regressive unexpressed genes are present. Instead gender is a social expression constructed around societal views which is why many native groups have more than two genders. In the arena of “biological sex” the expression is judged by gonadal tissues and secondary sex characteristics without taking into account hormone receptors, physical reactions to chemical introduction, minuscule brain differences that are hard to measure, chromosomal abnormalities, and a host of other things. Scientifically, there is really no way to express sex as anything but a spectrum ranging from hyper masculine to hyper feminine, with the median measurement being asexual. Also, no one has a problem with the term restroom, businesses and public places are moving away from the word because it is easier for people who don’t speak English to look at a little picture to know if it’s appropriate to enter.
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Rev. Christopher
We're mixing terminology here. Biological sex is very much determined by genes and is primarily binary. The DNA of a person will identify their sex, and that remains medically relevant. Gender and gender identity, however, are social constructs used to describe how a person expresses and identifies their sexuality. Regardless of a person's biological sex, they may identify in various ways, i.e., the gender spectrum. Transgender refers to people who strongly identify as the opposite of their biological sex.
My interpretation of Ms. Rowling's comments are that she was simply saying that sex does matter, medically, certainly, but also for the countless generations of biological females who've suffered and endured and fought to reach where are today. She could have stated her position more delicately, but I didn't read it as being hostile to trans people or anyone else. I worry that we're too eagerly looking for reasons to be offended and alienating people in the process.
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Susan Claire Schloeder
Holy moly! Thanks for all that info!
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Susan Claire Schloeder
Can't we put a picture of a toilet on the doors? I REALLY think the 1/2 man/woman picture is ridiculous.
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John Condron
Actually, Susan, many people find that their DNA does not match the sex assigned at birth.
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Susan Claire Schloeder
I understand that. I'm not against people being who they really are. My heart is full of love for all people. My only issue is the signs
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The Rev. William C, Millhouse
Although I do not agree with her, she has a right to her opinion.
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arawngraalrd
None have a right to her opinion! We must shout down all Tolerance!!!
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Thomas Chandy Varkey
That seems to be a radicalized opinion. What if someone disagrees with you on your opinions about politics or religion, do they have a right to disagree? J.K. Rowling is a person who wrote a book that many people loved, she is no expert in any field, in reality she is a common person who got lucky. Yet, she as a common person isnt allowed a basic human right? Pardon my questioning, but does that not seem absurd? What if the tables were turned? If you truly believe that all people should have the right to speak their mind and be who they are then you must by the laws of non-contradiction believe that anyone who disagrees with you must also have said rights. But what do I know?
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Ralph Victor Vendegna
It's Called FREEDOM OF SPEECH! 1ST Amendment Right.
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John Condron
Ummm... Rowling is British, so the 1st Amendment to the UNITED STATES Constitution is immaterial to this discussion.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
You're bloody well right, ol' chap!
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Monica Fotheringham
AMEN!!!!!!
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Elise Sjostedt
She’s not an American citizen, I’m sure the UK has something similar but you can’t just whip out the USA constitution like every country follows it.
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Sandra Lent
LOL. Unfortunately, true.
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Lionheart
👍
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Rev. Jonathan Peebles
Thank Goddess I have yet to buy a movie or book from her because I will not support her for saying that!
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Sandra Lent
for sure. She has no right to say what she thinks. I mean come on...freedom of speech only exists as a set of words.
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John Condron
"Freedom of speech" does not mean "freedom from consequences," Sandra. Rowling is free to say what she will, and Jonathan is free to respond as he pleases. That is how rights and responsibilities work.
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laverne parks
As a All Faith Minister, I feel no one has the right to pass judgment down on anyone else. For your not God, and only God has the right to pass judgment on someone. Before you pass judgment on another person, you should take a long look in the mirror. Because I'm sure you have some hidden Secrets. Let People be who they want to be without judgment
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Tell that to a judge the next you're in court, Laverne. It sounds like pseudo Christian B.S. to me. We have to make judgements about everything we do. How else can we tell the difference between our friends and enemies?
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Carl, you're just a poison pen. You don't contribute, you only criticize.
Are you even a minister?-
Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Mastrogiovanni, Va culo, rufiano!!!
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Tom
The problem with her comments is when she says what transgender women can not do.. at that point she is not speaking of her own experience; she is projecting, and that is unnecessarily inflammatory...Peace...Tom B
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T Kosse`
Sorry about the typo I meant talking, not taking.
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T Kosse`
It's seem to me she is making a mountain out of a molehill, an issue out of non-issue. And what does being able to have sex have to do with women menstruating which just biological function of a women body. Weather or not you're are able to menstruate has noting to do with being able to have sex with whoever you choose. Women are still able have sex long after they stop menstruating. Menstruating doesn't have anything to do with how you feel inside (I'm not taking about the cramps, the bloating, the water retention, or mood swings that goes along with menstruation) I am taking about inside as far as how you feel your sexual identity is. She writes that government policies intended to protect transgender folks could unintentionally prove harmful to children, and could make public women's restrooms and locker rooms unsafe, among other concerns. But she doesn't state how it is harmful to children, or how it could make public women's restrooms and locker rooms unsafe. There has been no proof of either those statement being true. Seem to me she is trying to be the new "Anita Bryant" of this generation.
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Lionheart
Freedom of speech is wonderful isn’t it, until it upsets those that don’t agree with someone. Even on this blog people seem to get so bent out of shape and disrespectful with issues like sexuality, race, religion, pro-choice vs pro life, secularists, Presidential elections etc,. I still prefer the Harry Potter books than any religious tome, much less bloodthirsty and a better ending.
🦁❤️
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T Kosse`
I also love all of the Harry Potter books plus the movies as well.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Sadly, the art of the debate is dead. To be able to discuss a topic, without criticizing others or without insulting those with a different opinion. Trans people are here and we need healthy debates, to be able to adjust societal norms; in order to accommodate them.
I like Rowling's work, without needing to like the writer herself. Just like my mother liked Elvis's music, without liking him.
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Katelynne Shouse
JKROWLINGTERF
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I've never seen a Harry Potter movie, or read the books, but I bet I could fall in love with Emma Watson, regardless of what she identifies as.
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David Arthur Lewis
Oh Carl, you really are a lost soul. We pray for you.
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Both flesh and books rot. Both will be destroyed when this planet passes away... the sun passes away, and the last stars burn out leaving nothing left in this dimension, but endless darkness.
Are you Ready, brothers and sisters ?
CHRIST wants to save your soul from destruction. Jesus invites you to come with him into Heaven...
Will you please take a moment today to invite Jesus into your Heart ? Can you take one minute to ask Christ to be the Lord of your life ? Would you like Jesus to help you, to guide you, to bless you, and to Love you forever ?
Take a moment now to just say, "Hello Jesus !" Don't worry, he can hear you without a smart phone ! You can talk to Jesus any time you like... that is the basis of all prayer. You can read His teachings any time you like , this is the good news of the New Testament.
God Bless you and save you, in Yahshua Messiah, Jesus Christ's name, forever and ever, Amen !