JK Rowling returns award after Kerry Kennedy criticism

JK Rowling has mentioned she is giving again an award related to the US Kennedy household, after being criticised for her views on gender and trans points.

The writer was given the Ripple of Hope honour by the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights organisation final yr.

However earlier this month, its president Kerry Kennedy mentioned views expressed by Rowling not too long ago “diminished the id” of trans folks.

Rowling says Kennedy’s implication that she is transphobic is “incorrect”.

What’s the row all about?

The Harry Potter author was criticised in June for posting tweets which took difficulty with the phrase “individuals who menstruate”.

Rowling objected to the avoidance of the usage of the phrase “girls”.

In a lengthy blog post, Rowling mentioned her curiosity in trans points stemmed from being a survivor of abuse and having issues round single-sex areas.

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“I respect each trans particular person’s proper to dwell any method that feels genuine and cozy to them,” she wrote. “On the identical time, my life has been formed by being feminine. I don’t imagine it is hateful to say so.”

A number of movie stars from the Harry Potter universe distanced themselves from her feedback, together with Eddie Redmayne, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.

What did Kerry Kennedy say?

Earlier this month, Kennedy posted a statement on-line, which learn: “I’ve spoken with JK Rowling to specific my profound disappointment that she has chosen to make use of her outstanding items to create a story that diminishes the id of trans and non-binary folks, undermining the validity and integrity of your complete transgender group.

“One which disproportionately suffers from violence, discrimination, harassment, and exclusion and, consequently, experiences excessive charges of suicide, suicide makes an attempt, homelessness, and psychological and bodily hurt.

“Black trans girls and trans youth particularly are focused.”

She went on to say the organisation categorically rejected Rowling’s view that an individual’s intercourse is the one they have been assigned at beginning.

“The science is obvious and conclusive: Intercourse will not be binary,” she wrote.

How has JK Rowling responded?

In a new statement published on her website, Rowling says she disagrees that “there isn’t any battle between the present radical trans rights motion and the rights of girls”.

She famous that “1000’s of girls” had acquired in contact together with her to indicate their assist and referred to as for a extra nuanced debate.

“Clinicians, teachers, therapists, academics, social staff, and employees at prisons and ladies’s refuges have additionally contacted me,” she continued.

“These professionals, some on the very high of their organisations, have expressed critical issues in regards to the influence of gender id concept on weak adolescents and on girls’s rights, and of the dismantling of safeguarding norms which defend essentially the most weak girls.

“None of them hate trans folks.”

Earlier recipients of the award she has now determined to provide again have included Barack Obama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

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