JK Rowling has spoken out against Labor’s plan to introduce harsher sentences for violence and abuse targeted at trans people, announcing that she would “happily do two years” in prison. Here’s the story.
Bring it On
“Bring on the court case, I say” – Harry Potter author JK Rowling has publically addressed the announcement that a ruling UK Labor Party will enforce stronger sentencing for abuse based on gender identity, particularly those targeting trans people.
Do the Crime, Do More Time
‘Stricter sentencing’ could even include a prison sentence of up to 2 years for individuals who deliberately misgender trans people.
This could include refusing to use their preferred pronouns or chosen names or referring to them by their assigned gender at birth.
Rowling Speaks Out
Rowling, who has come under immense public scrutiny for her opinions on gender identity issues, has lashed out at the news via X, formerly known as Twitter.
Stirring the Pot Online
The author joined growing online discontent over the announcement, first by sharing an image with the slogan “trans women are women” and the word “no” written above it.
Compelled Speech
When another X user told Rowling about the news, she declared in a second tweet that she would “happily do two years” rather than give in to “compelled speech.”
She was referring to the potential two-year sentencing for those who intentionally misgender trans people under a future Labor government.
More Fun Than a Red Carpet Event
In the same tweet, she compared the laws with “forced denial of the reality and importance of sex,” and welcomed the harsher penalties saying “Bring on the court case, I say.
It’ll be more fun than I’ve ever had on a red carpet.”
Prison Jobs for JK
She then adopted a lighter tone, making jokes with her followers about prison jobs she would take were she to be targeted by new hate speech laws.
Library or Laundry Room?
“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.”
Enthusiastic Reception
Some public figures responded with enthusiasm to Rowling’s tongue-in-cheek declaration, such as Labour MP Rosie Duffield who subtweeted her and replied, “See you there Jo!”
Not the First Time
This is far from the first time the Harry Potter creator has used her online platform to share her views on gender ideology.
Just recently she hit out against another Labor MP, Lisa Nandy, for claiming that male sex offenders who identify as women should be housed in female prisons.
We No Longer Trust Labor
“Do you stand by those comments,” she wrote in a tweet directed at the MP ”Given that you’re one of the biggest reasons many women on the Left no longer trust Labour to defend their rights?”
“I Can Afford it”
She also recently attended a feminist convention in Glasgow, where she told attendees that she agreed to “take the hit” for standing up for women because she ‘can afford it.’
Those Who Can, Should
She then bookended the appearance with another post on X, writing that “Women have been bullied out of jobs, silenced out of fear of losing livelihoods, harassed and assaulted.
That makes it even more important that those of us who can, stand up for those who can’t.”
Labor Rep Speaks
Though the Labor Party has not responded to Rowling’s comments directly, their Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, Annaliese Dodd, made a public statement that “the Conservatives are failing to protect LGBT+ people with their inability to get a handle on hate crime, including violent hate crime, and the unwillingness to ban abusive conversion practices outright.”
Strengthening the Law
‘Labour will ban so-called conversion therapy and strengthen the law to ensure the perpetrators of anti-LGBT+ hate can no longer dodge longer sentences,” she concluded.
What exactly that will mean for future UK criminal sentencing in regards to hate crimes, is still unclear.
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The post J.K. Rowling Will ‘Happily Do Two Years in Jail’ if Labor Government Gives Prison Sentences for Using the Wrong Pronouns first appeared on Mama Say What?!.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock /s_bukley. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
