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File image of JK Rowling. SIPA USA/PA Images

JK Rowling criticised for tweets about transgender people

On Twitter, Rowling mocked the use of the term ‘people who menstruate’.

AUTHOR OF THE Harry Potter series, JK Rowling, has been criticised by LGBT groups and others online after a series of tweets about gender terminology. 

Rowling, who has been criticised in the past for her commentary on gender identity, tweeted about an opinion piece with a headline reading: ‘Creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate.’ 

“‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” she said. 

This comment, and a further thread about sex and gender, garnered widespread criticism from LGBT groups and other people online.  

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a US LGBT non-governmental organisation for media monitoring, said Rowling “continues to align herself with an ideology” distorting facts about gender identity.

“JK Rowling continues to align herself with an ideology which willfully distorts facts about gender identity and people who are trans,” the organisation said on Twitter.

“In 2020, there is no excuse for targeting trans people.”

Eugene Gu, a doctor and online activist, replied saying that “sex exists on a bimodal biological spectrum just like gender exists on a bimodal sociological spectrum”.

Rowling, who recently ranked among the top 200 in the Sunday Times rich list, has received criticism in the past for her comments on sex and gender. 

In December, she voiced her support for a researcher in the UK who was sacked after tweeting that transgender people cannot change their biological sex.

Maya Forstater lost her job in March after she posted tweets opposing the British government’s proposals to reform the Gender Recognition Act to allow people to identify as the opposite sex.

Forstater took her case to an employment tribunal on the grounds that her dismissal constituted discrimination against her beliefs.

Employment judge James Tayler dismissed her claim, saying her views are “absolutist in her view of sex”.

Rowling responded to the ruling on Twitter at the time, saying: “Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?”

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    Mute shellakybooky
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:56 AM

    Gardai never done anything to stop the scourge that family put on dunmore. Bunch of tramps robbing and terrorising the village. It takes now for someone to get killed to put an end to this. Blood is on the gards hands. May that man rip what a horrible tragedy again. Life seems to have no value these days

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    Mute James O Carroll
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    Jul 26th 2018, 10:04 AM

    so many young people these days committing crimes. and most victims are men too. men need to make their own movements say that enough is enough

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    Mute Ole dan tucker
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    Jul 26th 2018, 10:19 AM

    Rough part of the town

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    Mute Martina Mc Carthy
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:39 AM

    This photo is not shanakiel please remove

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    Mute Ronan Sexton
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    Jul 26th 2018, 12:52 PM

    Meanwhile, you have Michael Clifford over on The Examiner cribbing about the guards stopping and searching scrotes. The never ending, utter stupidity of the PC half wits never ceases to amaze me.

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    Mute Martina Mc Carthy
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:35 AM

    That photo is not shanakiel remove please

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    Mute francie brady
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    Jul 26th 2018, 6:04 PM

    He will be the 5th teenager arrested/ charged with murder this summer – it’s out of control folks.

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    Mute Eadaoin Cummings
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:45 AM

    What the actual f%ck.. Do kids not know how to go out and enjoy themselves nowadays!! Never in my life have I carried a weapon.. I’m a worried parent, not because of my son, but because of the absolute idiots who can’t use their fists.. Disgusting a life gone and for what??

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    Mute Lynda Jones
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    Jul 26th 2018, 9:48 PM

    @Eadaoin Cummings: fists can kill, too. And have done.

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