JK Rowling blasts The New York Times for minimizing backlash she and others face for questioning trans ideology

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling says the New York Times is “rewriting” history by downplaying the harassment she’s received as an outspoken critic of transgender ideology.

Rowling made the fiery comments Monday on X in response to a Nov. 26 article, “Transgender Activists Question the Movement’s Confrontational Approach.”

In the article, author Jeremy W. Peters characterizes the abuse opponents of the radical pro-trans dogma face as nothing more than harsh critiques, insults and protests.

“To get on the wrong side of transgender activists is often to endure their unsparing criticism,” he wrote. 

“When J.K Rowling said that denying any relationship between sex and biology was ‘deeply misogynistic and regressive,’ a prominent L.G.B.T.Q. group accused her of betraying ‘real feminism.’ A few angry critics posted videos of themselves burning her books.” 

Rowling fired back, saying it’s much worse. She’s been sent “thousands of threats of murder, rape and violence,” as have others. 

“The rewriting of history begins. Opponents of gender ideology haven’t merely ‘endured unsparing criticism,’” she scolded. “I haven’t simply been told I ‘betrayed real feminism’ or received a few book-burning videos. I’ve been sent thousands of threats of murder, rape and violence. A trans woman posted my family’s home address with a bomb-making guide.  

“My eldest child was targeted by a prominent trans activist who attempted to doxx her and ended up doxxing the wrong young woman. I could write a twenty thousand word essay on what the consequences have been to me and my family, and what we’ve endured is NOTHING compared to the harm done to others. 

“By standing up to a movement that relies on threats of violence, ostracization and guilt-by-association, all of us have been smeared and defamed, but many have lost their livelihoods. Some have been physically assaulted by trans activists. Female politicians have been forced to hire personal security on the advice of police. The news that one of the UK’s leading endocrinologists, Dr Hillary Cass, was advised not to travel by public transport for her own safety should shame everyone who let this insanity run amok.” 

Still, in the light of President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s historic victory last month, Peters and the article’s contributors argue the combative approach taken by transgender activists caused them to lose ground in the court of public opinion. They go on to suggest activists should “rethink and recalibrate” their strategy and tamp down the “all-or-nothing voices” dominating public discourse in support of the “movement.” 

“We have to make it OK for someone to change their minds,” said the executive director of Advocates for Transgender Equality, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen. “We cannot vilify them for not being on our side. No one wants to join that team. No one wants to feel stupid or condescended to.” 

Ultimately, Rowling lambasted the idea as hypocritical and politically expedient. 

“Lest we forget, gender apostates have been targeted for crimes such as doubting the evidential basis for transitioning children, for arguing for fair sport for women and girls, for wanting to retain single sex spaces and services, especially for the most vulnerable, and for thinking it barbaric to lock in female prisoners with convicted male sex offenders,” she wrote.  

“Now the political landscape has shifted, and some who’ve been riding high on their own supply are waking up with a hell of a hangover. They’ve started wondering whether calling left-wing feminists who wanted all-female rape centers ‘Nazis’ was such a smart strategy. Maybe parents arguing that boys ought not to be robbing their daughters of sporting opportunities might, sort of, have a point? Possibly letting any man who says ‘I’m a woman’ into the locker room with twelve-year-old girls could have a downside, after all? 

“Mealy-mouthed retconning of what has actually happened over the past ten years is predictable but will not stand. I don’t doubt those who’ve turned a blind eye to the purges of non-believers, or even applauded and encouraged them, would rather minimize what the true cost of speaking out was, but ‘yes, maybe trans activists went a little over the top at times’ takes are frankly insulting. A full reckoning on the effects of gender ideology on individuals, society and politics is still a long way off, but I know this: the receipts will make very ugly reading when that time comes, and there are far too many of them to sweep politely under the carpet.”