Author J.K. Rowling laid into “gender ideologues” on Tuesday for doing everything they could to stifle debate on the potential risks and long-term impact of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, particularly on children.
Noting that “no debate” was an oft-repeated slogan in the trans activist community, the “Harry Potter” creator punctuated her comments with a series of X posts identifying individuals who had been scolded, bullied, and harassed — sometimes publicly — until they were either forced out of or quit their jobs.
The conversation began with a comment from Kirstie Allsop, who said in an X post that no one was blocking debate around those issues: “There [are] very real issues around the impact of puberty blockers on long term health. But the point I was making is that it is, and always has been possible to debate these things and those saying there was no debate are wrong.”
“I’m astounded by this comment,” Rowling replied. “One of the gender ideologues’ favourite slogans is ‘no debate.’ Opponents have been attacked, vilified, subject to discipline at work, had their lives overturned and lost their careers, all for the crime of wanting a debate.”
.@KirstieMAllsopp I’m astounded by this comment. One of the gender ideologues’ favourite slogans is ‘no debate’. Opponents have been attacked, vilified, subject to discipline at work, had their lives overturned and lost their careers, all for the crime of wanting a debate. 1/13 https://t.co/UVS2KmWmm6
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 15, 2024
Rowling quickly followed that with a series of posts naming people who had been directly harmed by the “gender ideologues” and their insistence that not only was no debate necessary, no debate could be permitted.
“Sonia Appleby, an experienced psychotherapist working at the now discredited Tavistock clinic, was monstered for raising concerns. A tribunal found that her professional reputation had been damaged and ‘prevented her from proper work on safeguarding,’” Rowling’s first post read.
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Sue Evans, a nurse who also worked at the Tavistock and was extremely worried that children were being harmed, tried to raise the alarm. She took concerns to management but was ‘alienated’ and subsequently left for the sake of her own mental health. https://t.co/66x9VrES4q 3/13
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 15, 2024
And the second: “Sue Evans, a nurse who also worked at the Tavistock and was extremely worried that children were being harmed, tried to raise the alarm. She took concerns to management but was ‘alienated’ and subsequently left for the sake of her own mental health.”
A third post mentioned psychiatrist Dr. David Bell, who filed a report voicing the concerns of people like Evans and Appleby — “and the trust’s response was to attempt to open an investigation into him.”
James Esses, who was doing a Masters Degree in psychotherapy, was expelled from his course for speaking out about the impact of gender ideology on child safeguarding. 5/13https://t.co/par3OwMcOF
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 15, 2024
“James Esses, who was doing a Masters Degree in psychotherapy, was expelled from his course for speaking out about the impact of gender ideology on child safeguarding,” the next post read.
“In Canada, Kenneth Zucker, former head of the Child Youth and Family Gender Identity Clinic, was fired for questioning whether automatic affirmation of children in their trans identities was the best treatment model,” Rowling’s thread continued.
In the US, trans man Scott Newgent (@NotScottNewgent) has made it his life’s mission to raise the alarm about the dangers of transitioning children. He’s lost his career for speaking out. 7/13 pic.twitter.com/HmCh6kC0fm
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 15, 2024
The seventh post told the story of Scott Newgent, who transitioned from female to male as an adult and was featured in Matt Walsh’s “What Is A Woman?” documentary — and has spent years advocating against transitioning children.
“Jo Phoenix, professor of criminology at the Open University, was harassed and bullied because of her opposition to gender identity ideology, severely impacting her career and health,” the eighth post read.
Allison Bailey, the lesbian KC who dared challenge gender identity ideology’s impact on lesbians, was targeted by Stonewall, subject to horrendous abuse and effectively lost her career. 9/13https://t.co/dtC4WZNwtq
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 15, 2024
A ninth followed: “Allison Bailey, the lesbian KC who dared challenge gender identity ideology’s impact on lesbians, was targeted by Stonewall, subject to horrendous abuse and effectively lost her career.”
“Philosophy professor Kathleen Stock was hounded out of her position at the University of Sussex, shunned by colleagues and targeted by students, all for the crime of being critical of gender identity ideology,” Rowling’s tenth post added.
Detransitioners are subject to horrendous abuse from their ‘community’ online, because they speak out about the negative impact hormones and surgery have had on their lives. We’ve all watched them being jeered at, even told to kill themselves, after sharing their stories. 11/13
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 15, 2024
Pivoting back to her original point, Rowling continued, “Detransitioners are subject to horrendous abuse from their ‘community’ online, because they speak out about the negative impact hormones and surgery have had on their lives. We’ve all watched them being jeered at, even told to kill themselves, after sharing their stories.”
“These individuals are the tip of the iceberg,” Rowling added. “I know, because I’ve received innumerable letters and emails from other people in medical and related professions who’ve been bullied and harassed for wanting a debate on gender identity ideology and the affirmation model.”
People like you who now claim there’s never been any attempt to stifle debate are part of the reason this mess happened in the first place. If you want to remain in a state of blithe unconcern, fine, but don’t tell those in the trenches they’re making a fuss about nothing. 13/X
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 15, 2024
Turning back to Allsop’s comment, Rowling concluded: “People like you who now claim there’s never been any attempt to stifle debate are part of the reason this mess happened in the first place. If you want to remain in a state of blithe unconcern, fine, but don’t tell those in the trenches they’re making a fuss about nothing.”
