Harry Potter Author JK Rowling He criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after she appointed veteran Labor leader Harriet Harman as an adviser on women and girls in Downing Street, citing Harman’s past comments about trans women as part of a wider conflict over gender identity politics in the UK.The appointment reopens longstanding divisions in British public life over gender and gender definitions, with Rowling accusing the government of ignoring concerns about biological women.
Starmer appoints Harriet Harman as women’s adviser
Starmer announced Harman’s appointment on social media, praising her as a long-standing advocate for women and girls and saying she would help expand opportunities for women to participate in public life.Harman, one of Labour’s most senior figures and the party’s former deputy leader, has previously expressed inclusive views on gender identity, saying in 2022 that transgender women are women while also acknowledging biological differences.Given Harman’s inclusive stance on trans women, her appointment has become a talking point for critics who believe Labor has not clearly defined its stance on gender issues.
Rowling’s pointed response: ‘Define what you defend’
Rowling strongly criticized the decision, arguing that Harman’s past stances reflected what she saw as a political hesitancy to clearly define female identity.Rowling responded online: “You can’t defend something you’re afraid to define.”She later added that those unwilling to challenge what she called “gender ideology” in politics lacked the courage to protect women’s rights.Rowling also accused Labor of alienating female voters who want stronger protections in single-sex spaces.
Rowling’s long-term stance on transgender issues
The controversy is linked to Rowling’s ongoing public stance on gender identity, which has made her one of the most prominent voices in the debate on trans rights in the UK.In 2020, Rowling publicly defended biological sex as “immutable” and believed that women’s rights to single-sex spaces must be protected.She also supported researcher Maya Forstater after she lost her job over her gender-critical views, when she wrote that women should be free to raise concerns about gender-based rights without fear of being labeled a bigot.Rowling said she supports protecting transgender people but remains concerned about the impact of gender self-identification policies on women’s safety and privacy.