Recently, the BBC issued an apology to J.K. Rowling after the news outlet incorrectly suggested that negative comments toward the transgender community would soon become a criminal offense. In recent years, the “Harry Potter” author has been a devout advocate of women’s rights, criticizing the transgender movement.
“I’ll happily do two years if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex. Bring on the court case, I say. It’ll be more fun than I’ve ever had on a red carpet,” Rowling said, maintaining that she will not relinquish her freedom of speech.
Rowling further joked about how she would spend her time behind bars for criticizing gender ideology, stating, “Hoping for the library, obviously, but I think I could do ok in the kitchens. Laundry might be a problem. I have a tendency to shrink stuff/turn it pink accidentally. Guessing that won’t be a major issue if it’s mostly scrubs and sheets, though.”
On April 2, BBC Scotland released a story based on J.K. Rowling that insinuated “derogatory comments” would become a criminal offense under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021. However, this statement proved to be incorrect, and the outlet had to issue a correction.
According to the corporation, “This was inaccurate and we should have referred to the Act creating a new crime where it is an offence if someone communicates material or behaves in a threatening or abusive manner with the intention of ‘stirring up hatred’ based on these protected characteristics.” The BBC continued, “We apologise for any confusion caused and have reminded our teams of the importance of accuracy in our output.”
Reportedly, Scottish police have received numerous complaints about Rowling’s critical speech of the transgender community. However, authorities have stated that no punitive action will be taken against the author. Rowling said, “If they go after any woman for simply calling a man a man, I’ll repeat that woman’s words and they can charge us both at once.”
Rowling has not shied away from sharing her opinions about the transgender movement, often espousing her thoughts on X. Another tweet from her reads, “Men defining what a woman is, what women should and shouldn’t fear, what women should and shouldn’t say, what rights women should be fine with giving up and, of course, what constitutes ‘real’ misogyny: get a bloody mirror. That’s real misogyny, looking right back at you.”
Rowling also criticized the Labour Party’s stance on preferred pronouns, writing on X, “Saved by the host, but at some point one of them is going to have to answer the question. ‘Over 52% of this country are women. Are we sure that Labour is ready to govern when it’s spent four years denying that a woman is an adult human female… and punishing women?’ 👏🔥“
The U.K. is becoming increasingly hostile toward free speech, where political demand exists to criminally punish individuals for deliberately misgendering someone. The American Tribune reported that under proposed Labour policy the intentional usage on incorrect pronouns, if motivated by hostility toward one’s transgender identity, would be a hate crime punishable with prison time.
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