J.K. Rowling says her views on gender issues “haven’t changed,” calling contemporary transgender activism “elitist to its core” in a new essay.
The Harry Potter author published “An Update to My Essay of June 2020” on her official website on October 21, returning to arguments that drew criticism six years ago.
Rowling says her public position has brought threats of death, rape and torture. She describes those threats as the principal way the controversy has affected her personally.
She also writes that transgender people should be protected from discrimination in housing and employment, retain their human rights and be able to live safely.
Rowling Argues Wealth Shapes the Debate Over Single-Sex Spaces
I wrote a new piece about women’s rights and whether or not I want trans people dead. (Spoiler: I don’t)👇
Rowling argues that wealthy supporters of policies based on gender identity are insulated from consequences she believes fall on women with fewer resources.
Her examples include workplace changing rooms, prisons, sports and services for survivors of sexual violence. She contends that women who challenge policies in those settings can face professional consequences and legal costs they cannot afford.
She also argues that the movement has gained influence through universities, cultural organizations and public institutions, contrasting it with earlier civil rights campaigns that organized outside established power.
Advocates May Mailman of the Independent Women’s Law Center and Jeremiah Igunnubole of Alliance Defending Freedom International welcomed the essay, Fox News reported.
Her Advocacy Includes a Support Center and Legal Fund
Rowling founded Beira’s Place in Edinburgh in 2022. The organization provides free, confidential support for women ages 16 and older across the Lothians who have experienced sexual violence, abuse or exploitation.
At its launch, a spokesperson told LBC that the service based eligibility on sex under the Equality Act. Requests for advice would be considered case by case, with referrals where appropriate. Rowling says the organization faced harassment when it opened but continued providing services.
She established the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund in 2024 to help finance legal representation for qualifying women and organizations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Applicants must be unable to afford the relevant legal action without assistance.
In the essay, Rowling reports that fund applications involving private employers have declined and argues that public institutions have been more resistant to the legal position she supports. She commits to continuing that financial assistance.
What the UK Supreme Court Ruled in April 2025
Rowling also cites the April 16, 2025, decision in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, a case brought by an organization she supported.
The UK Supreme Court unanimously held that “man,” “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex. The dispute arose from Scottish guidance concerning women’s representation on public boards.
The court confirmed that transgender people, with or without a gender recognition certificate, retain protection against discrimination based on gender reassignment. They can also bring applicable sex discrimination and harassment claims, including claims based on being perceived as a woman.
The act allows separate and single-sex services under specific conditions, including a requirement that the provision be a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. The fund’s website says it is currently prioritizing cases intended to put the judgment into practice.
‘Harry Potter’ Stars Voiced Support for Transgender People in 2020
Daniel Radcliffe responded to Rowling’s tweets on June 8, 2020, two days before her original essay appeared. Writing for The Trevor Project, he stated: “Transgender women are women.”
Radcliffe acknowledged Rowling’s role in his career and rejected framing his response as a personal feud. He also addressed readers distressed by her comments, reassuring them that the meaning they had found in the books remained theirs.
Emma Watson expressed support for transgender people on June 10, 2020, emphasizing that their identities deserved respect. Rupert Grint followed with a statement on June 12, reported by The Standard. “I firmly stand with the trans community,” Grint said. “We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment.”