J.K. Rowling's transphobia: A history

An exhausting — if not exhaustive — timeline of the author's comments. This newsletter is going to look a little different going forward. That’s because Vox is saying goodbye to The Goods brand, though we will continue to cover all the things we previously would have deemed “Goodsy,” like [Emily Stewart on what the hell is going on with the economy]( and [Rebecca Jennings on millennial cringe](. You’ll still get this weekly digest newsletter, with even more great stuff from our wider culture team. Culture at Vox means consumer culture (what you came to love and expect from The Goods), but also entertainment coverage, service pieces, and reporting on so many aspects of how we live today. You’ll also still get Rebecca’s internet culture column in your inbox twice a month. Thanks so much for reading our work these past many years – here’s to many more! And for today, your recommended reading is an extremely thorough, very good, very upsetting timeline of J.K. Rowling’s transphobia by the stellar Aja Romano. —[Julia Rubin](, editorial director   Is J.K. Rowling transphobic? Let's let her speak for herself. [A young Black woman holds a smartphone at arm's length, taking a photo of herself.]( Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images J.K. Rowling’s supporters frequently claim the author has never actually said or done anything transphobic. It’s a position you can see on social media, [in the pages of the New York Times](, and even on [a new podcast]( with Rowling herself. It’s also an easily debunked lie. Some of this confusion around Rowling’s opinions can be cleared up with [a definition of transphobia](, which doesn’t — despite the “phobia” — solely mean fear of trans people, but, per Merriam-Webster, also an “irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against transgender people.” (In fact, Merriam-Webster’s own [examples list]( cites multiple articles related to Rowling.) Rowling can say she likes everyone, but she has displayed that prejudice time and again. She’s also peddled explicit fear of trans people, particularly trans women, insisting they’re an inherently dangerous threat to cisgender women. Although some in [the media]( distort the anger directed at Rowling from trans activists, trans people, and allies, the truth is those feelings — not just anger, but betrayal and grief — are justified. Rowling has made her antagonistic position on trans issues clear through tweets, sound bites, actions, and even a [3,600-word blog post](. By 2023, her transphobia has become so rampant and constant that it’s difficult to build a completely comprehensive timeline of it. For those attuned to it, she doesn’t have to spell it out every single time; it’s a huge part of her identity. These dog whistles only lead to more confusion, however, allowing people to point to the absence of immediately obvious bigotry to claim she’s being unfairly maligned. Additionally, she [increasingly]( [threatens detractors]( [with legal action](, which contributes to critics of her behavior [falling silent](. Conspicuously, many of her legal threats appear to be directed at individuals identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Since Rowling began airing her views, her community, especially online where many of these conversations are had, is now stacked with similarly minded people who share her transphobic beliefs. For instance, Rowling is friends with numerous anti-trans activists, including Helen Joyce, who’s made [alarmingly transphobic statements]( calling for a “reduction” in the number of trans people. She’s [tweeted]( public support for [anti-gay](, [anti-trans](activist [Caroline Farrow](. These connections are part of a social network echo chamber of [trans-exclusionary radical feminists, or TERFs]( (sometimes called “radfems” or the “gender-critical” movement). In Rowling’s native UK, [TERFism has gained a unique stronghold]( over some particularly vocal, ostensibly liberal feminists like Rowling. The facts we can easily point to suggest that Rowling has been turning toward an anti-trans stance over a long period, beginning mostly with simple engagement on social media and leading to fiery and extremist statements. While labeling something transphobic is a serious accusation, and not something we do lightly, it’s important to recognize Rowling’s bigotry for what it is. The rundown that follows shows her growing embrace of transphobic, even extremist rhetoric. [Read the full story »](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Everything you need to know about the 95th Academy Awards A guide to the year's Oscars. [Read the full story »](   You might not know if your blender will kill you America’s messy, screwed-up product recall system, explained. 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