JK Rowling returns human rights award over criticism of 'anti-trans comments'
The author is said to have created a narrative that "diminishes the identity of trans and non-binary people".
Friday 28 August 2020 17:15, UK
JK Rowling has said she will return a human rights award following criticism of her views on transgender issues.
The Harry Potter author received the Ripple of Hope award by the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) organisation in December 2019 for her work with Lumos, a children's charity.
But earlier this month, Kelly Kennedy, president of the RFKHR body, released a statement saying the author had written "dismissively" about trans issues, "creating a narrative that diminishes the identity of trans and non-binary people".
Ms Kennedy's criticism referred to a that Rowling made in June, which were criticised by many as being "anti-trans" comments, as well as an essay the 55-year-old wrote on sex and gender that same month.
The statement from Ms Kennedy went on to say that this narrative undermines "the validity and integrity of the entire transgender community".
Kennedy added: "I take Rowling's position to be that the sex one is assigned at birth is the primary and determinative factor of one's gender, regardless of one's gender identity - a position that I categorically reject.
"Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling's attacks upon the transgender community are inconsistent with the fundamental beliefs and values of RFKHR and represent a repudiation of my father's vision."
Rowling spoke about the matter on Thursday, saying the statement "incorrectly implied that I was transphobic".
She added that she had received "thousands of private emails of support" from individuals affected by trans issues.
Rowling continued: "I absolutely refute the accusation that I hate trans people or wish them ill, or that standing up for the rights of women is wrong, discriminatory, or incites harm or violence to the trans community.
"RFKHR has stated there is no conflict between the current radical trans rights movement and the rights of women.
"The thousands of women who've got in touch with me disagree, and, like me, believe this clash of rights can only be resolved if more nuance is permitted in the debate."
Rowling concluded that due to the "very serious conflict of views between myself and RFKHR, I feel I have no option but to return the Ripple of Hope Award bestowed upon me last year".
She explained that she is "deeply saddened" by the stance RFKHR has taken, but said no award or honour "means so much to me that I would forfeit the right to follow the dictates of my own conscience".