J.K. Rowling, the British author best known for creating the Harry Potter series, took to social media on Wednesday to voice her disapproval of those advocating for the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rowling shared a photo of former U.S. President Donald Trump signing the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order, surrounded by applauding female athletes. The signing took place on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the achievements of women in sports and advocating for equal opportunities for female athletes.
In her post, Rowling directed a sharp message to “the left,” claiming that their efforts to allow transgender women—biological males who identify as female—to compete in women’s sports had contributed to a harmful shift in society. “Congratulations to every single person on the left who’s been campaigning to destroy women’s and girls’ rights,” Rowling wrote. “Without you, there’d be no images like this.”
The tweet was accompanied by a critical tone, as the author suggested that the push to allow transgender women in women’s sports had undermined women’s rights and safety. Rowling, who has been vocal about her views on the subject, continued her critique in another post, rejecting the argument that transgender inclusion affects only a small fraction of the population. “Why do you care about a tiny fraction of the population?” she remarked, dismissing the line as “utterly ridiculous.”
Rowling’s stance on the issue has been clear for years, as she has consistently supported the notion of keeping biological males out of women’s sports. The Harry Potter author argued that the promotion of gender ideology has led to a significant erosion of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, scientific truth, and protections for women and children. “Gender ideology has undermined freedom of speech, scientific truth, gay rights, and women’s and girls’ safety, privacy and dignity,” she wrote. “It’s also caused irreparable physical damage to vulnerable kids. Nobody voted for it, the vast majority of people disagree with it, yet it has been imposed, top down, by politicians, healthcare bodies, academia, sections of the media, celebrities and even the police.”
The author’s post suggested that those advocating for gender inclusivity in sports and beyond had been misled or were ignoring the negative consequences of such policies. “This movement has impacted society in disastrous ways,” Rowling said. “If you had any sense, you’d be quietly deleting every trace of activist mantras, ad hominem attacks, false equivalence and circular arguments from your X feeds.”
In addition to her views on women’s sports, Rowling also made headlines last year when she criticized the BBC’s decision to award its Women’s Footballer of the Year award to Zambian soccer player Barbra Banda. Banda had previously withdrawn from the Zambian squad for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after failing to meet sex eligibility requirements. However, she was allowed to compete in the Paris Olympics and later became the second-leading scorer in the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League.
Rowling took to social media to express her outrage, stating, “Presumably the BBC decided this was more time efficient than going door to door to spit directly in women’s faces.”
Beyond her views on sports, Rowling has faced significant backlash for her outspoken criticism of transgender issues, particularly in relation to the Scottish Hate Crime Act. Signed into law last year, the legislation introduced a new crime of “stirring up hatred” against any of the protected groups covered by the bill, including transgender individuals. Rowling, a vocal critic of the law, has repeatedly expressed concern that it infringes on free speech and places limits on people’s ability to express their views on gender. She even challenged Scottish authorities to arrest her for calling “a man a man.”
In previous social media posts, Rowling also highlighted several instances in which male criminals claimed to be transgender in order to be housed in female prisons. She cited examples of male criminals convicted of serious offenses, including child sexual assault, who had been allowed to identify as women before serving their sentences. The author used these examples to argue that transgender inclusion policies posed a threat to women’s safety.
The issue of transgender inclusion in sports has been a contentious topic worldwide, with both sides of the debate fiercely defending their positions. Critics of transgender women competing in women’s sports argue that it creates an unfair advantage, given the physiological differences between men and women. Supporters of transgender rights, however, maintain that exclusion from sports is discriminatory and harmful to transgender individuals.
Rowling’s stance on this issue has earned her both support and condemnation. While she has found an audience of supporters who share her concerns about the impact of gender ideology on women’s rights, she has also faced significant backlash from the LGBTQ+ community and allies who accuse her of transphobia. Despite the controversy, Rowling remains an active and vocal participant in the debate, particularly on social media platforms like X, where she has continued to share her views on the subject.
As the debate over transgender rights in sports continues, Rowling’s comments are likely to fuel further conversations about the intersection of gender, equality, and fairness in athletics.
