These days, it seems like TERF extraordinaire JK Rowling just can’t win. Since the once-beloved children’s book author took a sharp turn toward TERFism, she’s spent her time bullying trans women online from her apparently mold-ridden apartment.
And now, her comments have roused the hatred of the entire nation of Taiwan.
Yesterday, we spoke about the Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who’s currently competing in the Olympics. While Khelif is a cis woman with DSD (differences in sex development), TERFs like Riley Gaines and the Libs of TikTok account are taking this opportunity to express outrage over a theoretical problem that hasn’t actually come to pass. Because Khelif has higher levels of testosterone, anti-trans trolls are calling her a “man” and claiming that putting her in the women’s category will lead to women’s deaths.
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Some folks have nothing better to do than create trans panic narratives…even around cis people!
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Of course JK Rowling wasted no time jumping right on that bandwagon.
In a racist, transphobic tweet, Rowling refers to Khelif as a “male” and tries to reframe the boxing competition as something akin to domestic abuse. But it got even worse. Not content to misgender and malign Khelif, Rowling went on to post a dubious Guardian article about Khelif and the Taiwanese Olympic boxer Lin Yu‑ting, asking whether the “insanity” will ever stop.
In the clapback heard round the world, a spokesperson from the Taiwanese cabinet explained that Lin, a cisgender woman, has the full support of her government. She didn’t fail a “gender test,”” and there is nothing unsafe or unfair in her inclusion in the Olympics.
More than that: Lin’s interest in boxing is personal. She told several outlets that after experiencing domestic abuse as a child, she wanted to become a boxer in order to protect herself and other women, including her mother.
Post by @nuanuamiaoView on Threads
It should come as no surprise that Rowling is attacking two women of color and calling their gender into question. This move comes straight out of the white woman playbook, and it’s a dangerous one. Thankfully, the Taiwanese people are speaking out against Rowling and turning against her en masse.
Another day, another audience alienated because of hateful, shameful views.
