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‘Harry Potter’ author J.K. Rowling has returned Kennedy Human Rights Award, after the president of the organization, Kerry Kennedy criticized her most recent anti-Trans comments. As remember, a few months ago, the author shared a series of tweets that contain transphobic views on gender identity. Addressing these tweets, Kennedy wrote a lengthy statement on the RFK Human Rights website. She began:
“Over the course of June 2020—LGBTQ Pride Month—and much to my dismay, J.K. Rowling posted deeply troubling transphobic tweets and statements. On June 6, she tweeted an article headlined ‘Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.’ She wrote glibly and dismissively about transgender identity.”
The statement continued:
“Trans rights are human rights. J.K. Rowling’s attacks upon the transgender community are inconsistent with the fundamental beliefs and values of RFK Human Rights and represent a repudiation of my father’s vision. (…) We at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights have long fought in solidarity with transgender and other allied activists around the world.”
In return, the 55-year-old author posted a statement on her website to deny all the charges of transphobia, and stated that she joined the public debate on gender identity and women’s rights. The writer wrote the statement released by Kerry Kennedy was totally incorrect, she added:
“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 that 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.”
J.K Rowling, who claimed that she was a longstanding donor to LGBT charities and a supporter of trans people’s right to live free of persecution, stated she would return the award:
“I feel I have no option but to return the Ripple of Hope Award bestowed upon me last year. I am deeply saddened that RFKHR has felt compelled to adopt this stance, but no award or honor, no matter my admiration for the person for whom it was named, means so much to me that I would forfeit the right to follow the dictates of my own conscience.”
