J.K. Rowling says she would 'happily' do prison time over her transphobic views: 'It'll be more fun'
J.K. Rowling said that she would “happily” spend two years in prison for her views against the trans community, saying it is a “compelled speech” and a “forced denial of the reality.”
The author made the statement via her X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Oct. 18. In the post, she shared a photo with the text, “Repeat after us: Trans women are women” which she captioned, “No.”
No. pic.twitter.com/YhoHfKdeat
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 17, 2023
This comes after Daily Mail reported on Saturday, Oct. 14 that the Britain labor government would consider gender identity attacks, like deliberately addressing them with wrong pronouns, as a criminal offense.
This also includes harassment driven by hate because of their race and religion. Offenders could face up to two years in prison.
In addition to her response, the Harry Potter author said that she would “happily” go to jail than address them in their preferred pronounces, saying that it is a “forced denial of reality and importance of sex.”
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.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 17, 2023
“I'll happily do two years if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex,” she wrote in the X post. “Bring on the court case, I say. It'll be more fun than I've ever had on a red carpet.”
She also quipped that she hopes there will be a library inside, while also sharing more of her household chores issues.
“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,” she added.
Rowling has long been vocal about her views against the trans community. She first faced backlash in 2019 when she supported Maya Forstater who lost her job for attacking the transgender community on social media.
She also faced backlash in 2020 when she criticized a piece that used the phrase “people who menstruate” as a diverse term other than merely “women.”
"If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction. If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives,” she said. “It isn't hate to speak the truth,” she added.
She was also openly denounced by other celebrities, like Jameela Jamil, and Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.
"The reason I felt very, very much as though I needed to say something when I did was because, particularly since finishing Potter, I’ve met so many queer and trans kids and young people who had a huge amount of identification with Potter on that," Radcliffe said on why it was important to push back Rowling’s views.
He went on, "Seeing them hurt on that day I was like, I wanted them to know that not everybody in the franchise felt that way. And that was really important."
Despite this, Rowling does not seem to mind the backlash, even if it significantly affects her legacy.
"I do not walk around my house thinking about my legacy," she said in her podcast.
"What a pompous way to live your life, walking around thinking, what will my legacy be? Whatever, I'll be dead. I care about now. I care about the living."