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.
“Latterly I felt she could have been calmer & kinder…” I have always been amazed at how calm JKR has been in this debate, despite all the horrible threats and abuse she has endured. She has politely set out her position with long replies to which the reply has often been “I’m not reading all that.”
@jk_rowling @KirstieMAllsopp "insulating wealth"...when one can afford the expensive draught excluders!
@jk_rowling A cliché but an apt one, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’. When others shy away, you outstandingly step up to the plate. Thank you for doing so! Of all that you’ve given to the world, “The Ickabog” & associated artwork remains the greatest; pure joy in dark times🤗
@jk_rowling @DarcyWAHF @KirstieMAllsopp If I hear "be kind" once more, from celebs who will never be locked up with rapists...
@jk_rowling put herself on the line for people like me. I've been disabled since I got covid while working for the NHS. I still have health problems, and I am prepared to die rather than let a man perform my intimate care. My earliest childhood memories are of sexual abuse, I refuse to let that happen to me again.
More people need to speak out but people like Kirsty say we need to do it in a certain way, well whilst the majority stayed silent lesbians and gays got sterilised, castrated and had double mastectomies, won’t be happening again Kirsty I hope everyone learns a lesson from this, a HUGE one