Ever since I first tweeted about gender politics I’ve never criticised @jk_rowling. I understood that she had received unacceptable abuse, and had been taken unawares by the responses to her initial feelings. Latterly I felt she could have been calmer & kinder given her position
of enormous influence and insulating wealth, but I never expressed that view. I remain a fan of her work and I am sad she has decided to have a go at me. For me to stick my head above the parapet is not without risk, I did it because I saw examples of disturbing bigotry.
Kirstie, I didn’t say a word about any abuse I’ve taken. I’ve always acknowledged that I’m in an extremely fortunate position regarding my freedom to speak. What I did was give you examples of what has happened to people who put their livelihoods on the line to try and prevent harm to others. The people I mentioned in my thread are heroes for what they did. They paid a massive price for wanting, among other things, a debate around child transition. The other side’s objective was demonstrably and even openly to shut down debate, to make things like ‘puberty blockers carry known and severe risks’ literally unsayable. ‘Why can’t everyone just be nice like me?’ has been the go-to response for many high profile people during this debacle. I don’t think it’s ‘kind’ to remain silent while people with everything to lose stand up against medical experimentation on children or the removal of women’s rights.
@jk_rowling @DarcyWAHF @KirstieMAllsopp If I hear "be kind" once more, from celebs who will never be locked up with rapists...
@SaintCirce @DarcyWAHF @KirstieMAllsopp ...nor use the changing rooms in Primark, or need a government-funded rape crisis centre, or take their kids swimming in the council run swimming pool, or be put on a mixed-sex, overstretched NHS ward, or be forced to agree that their male sex attacker is a fellow woman...
@jk_rowling @SaintCirce @DarcyWAHF @KirstieMAllsopp If it any consolation, accidentally finding yourself married to a “trans woman” can happen to any of us. It’s a great leveller!
@transwidows @jk_rowling @SaintCirce @DarcyWAHF @KirstieMAllsopp It was the last thing I ever suspected and it destroyed me and our children.
@Helenmcshane3 @transwidows @jk_rowling @SaintCirce @DarcyWAHF @KirstieMAllsopp Hugs to you & your kids.
@Helenmcshane3 @eyre_ann @transwidows @jk_rowling @SaintCirce @DarcyWAHF @KirstieMAllsopp So sorry this happened to you and your kids.
@Helenmcshane3 @transwidows @jk_rowling @SaintCirce @DarcyWAHF @KirstieMAllsopp So sorry 😢 Hope you’ve had the support you all need x