Despite being the author of one of the best-known characters in recent history, J.K. Rowling increasingly arouses less and less sympathy among a large part of the world's population. The success of Harry Potter both in literature and in cinema, soon targeting streaming platforms with a series, has not prevented millions of people from turning against him for a crucial issue: his crusade against transsexuality.
For many years, the English writer has raised the ire of the LGTBIQ community by criticizing the mere existence of transsexual people, filling networks and interviews with derogatory comments and even getting rid of contrary opinions based on strategic lawsuits against public participation. A critical and controversial voice that has risen again this Tuesday with a challenge to the territory in which she resides: Scotland.
After growing up in the town of Arbroath and having written the saga that would make her known in Edinburgh, Rowling has attacked the Scottish government over the implementation of the Hate Crimes and Public Order Act. The writing criminalizes and condemns, among others, abusive behavior and threats on social networks for reasons of “transsexual identity” with up to seven years in prison, which has given the writer some peace.
“Scottish lawmakers appear to have placed more value on the feelings of men who interpret their idea of femininity, however misogynistic or opportunistic, than on the rights and freedoms of actual women and girls. The redefinition of 'woman' to include any man who declares himself as such has already had serious consequences for the rights and safety of women and girls in Scotland, with the strongest impact being suffered, as always, by the most vulnerable, including prisoners and rape survivors,” he criticized.
Not content with her forceful message, she has also called ten women who have responded to her “men” and has challenged the Scottish authorities to arrest her: “I am currently out of the country, but if what I have written here is considered a crime under the terms of the new law, I expect to be arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment.” Even with everything, Rowling has found support.
“People should not be criminalized for stating simple facts about biology. We believe in the right to freedom of expression in this country and conservatives will always protect it,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in statements to the Daily Telegraph. His Scottish counterpart, Humza Yousaf, assures that the new law guarantees freedom of expression and has regretted the “misinformation and imprecision” about its implementation.
