JK Rowling calls for PM to apologise after Supreme Court ruling on women

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JK Rowling has called on Sir Keir Starmer and other ministers to apologise after the Supreme Court ruled on the definition of a woman last week.

Last week, the court unanimously decided that the definition of a “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to “a biological woman and biological sex”.

The ruling caused consternation among some politicians and tens of thousands of people protested in central London on Saturday against what they said was a “betrayal” of the trans community.

Rowling – who has been outspoken against transgender women using single-sex spaces – was among several gender critical campaigners who celebrated the ruling, and has now called on the prime minister and government to apologise for previous statements supporting trans women.

“Women have fought (and are still fighting) the single biggest land grab on their rights in my lifetime,” she said on social media.

“Some have sacrificed their livelihoods and safety to combat a pernicious ideology that has infiltrated elite institutions, including government.”

Rowling went on to say women “have been persecuted, harassed, smeared, roughed up and forced to take employers to court for discrimination,” and then added: “Do these politicians have any shame?”

She made the remarks under a graphic of Labour officials which showed their previous comments in support of transgender people – including Sir Keir, who previously said “trans women are women,” before Downing Street said on Tuesday that he no longer believes that is true.

The Harry Potter author then asked if “any of them issue an apology” for supporting trans rights groups, which she says “had measurable, severe impact on some of society’s most vulnerable women”.

“As another public wave of death threats is issued against women because of the Supreme Court ruling, their silence has become deafening,” she added, referencing incidents where gender critical campaigners had received threats online.

“I’m just one of millions of women disgusted by the lack of accountability or remorse. We will not forget.”

Read more:
Why the definition of a woman has caused so much controversy
Why Labour LGBT+ WhatsApp messages raise uncomfortable questions
Gender ruling will have immediate real-world consequences

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Last Wednesday’s decision was the result of a case brought against the Scottish government by campaign group For Women Scotland, supported by Rowling.