To the Editor:
Re “In Protection of J.Ok. Rowling,” by Pamela Paul (column, Feb. 17):
It is a distressingly one-sided view of J.Ok. Rowling’s feedback. The outrage towards Ms. Rowling is justified. She is a rich, highly effective writer who’s utilizing her far-reaching platform to push the narrative that trans girls — who exist on the farthest fringes of our societies — pose a risk to her. That is the other of actuality.
Trans girls are discriminated towards each day and endure abuse, aggression, assault and even homicide by the hands of cisgender individuals. They want assist from the mainstream, not nuanced criticism.
Whereas this column does current a protection of J.Ok. Rowling, it doesn’t paint an correct image of her feedback. For instance, it cherry-picks quotes describing her assist for trans individuals which can be similar to Donald Trump saying “I like Hispanics” after making repeated racist feedback towards them. It lists two actors from the Harry Potter films who assist her however disregards the numerous actors from the franchise who condemned her stance.
Ms. Rowling’s arguments might seem cheap, however the allies she has made and stances she has taken are indefensible.
Brian Eberle
Somerville, Mass.
To the Editor:
J.Ok. Rowling arguably did extra to advertise youngsters’s literacy than some other writer in historical past, and that needs to be thought of her best contribution to the world. Her views usually are not transphobic; they’re pro-biological girls, who nonetheless don’t get pleasure from full equality or illustration or security in any house.
The lived experiences of trans girls and bio girls usually are not the identical, even when our struggles are related. We’re totally different. Bio girls will be supportive of trans girls and need areas for bio girls solely, like sports activities competitions and home violence facilities.
Demanding equal entry to each house when bio girls don’t but totally have that’s like leaping to the entrance of a really lengthy line after which screaming at everybody who calls you out for it. Bravo to Ms. Rowling for utilizing her clout and place to talk out.
Kristine Kinsey
Knoxville, Tenn.
To the Editor:
Pamela Paul continues to stoke a harmful hearth. Final yr, she wrote one other piece concerning using the phrase “queer” (“Why the Phrase ‘Homosexual’ Is Falling Out of Style,” Oct. 24).
I pose the query to Ms. Paul: Why should you proceed to be the satan’s advocate?
L.G.B.T.Q.+ communities are underneath assault, particularly younger transgender individuals, whose rights to important well being care are being threatened by laws throughout the U.S. Now just isn’t the time to be defending David Sedaris’s questionable claims concerning the phrase queer or J.Ok. Rowling’s feedback which will or is probably not transphobic.
It doesn’t essentially matter what Ms. Rowling thinks about trans individuals or what Mr. Sedaris thinks concerning the phrase queer. What we have to hear are the voices of transgender individuals.
If we proceed to amplify the voices of figures like Mr. Sedaris or Ms. Rowling over the individuals in our nation who’re really underneath assault, then there’s a particularly grim outlook for our future.
Charles Yale
Omaha
To the Editor:
As a lesbian feminist, I applaud Pamela Paul for having the braveness to tackle this extremely controversial topic. I’ve adopted the talk in my neighborhood and elsewhere. The dearth of objectivity and talent to suppose critically concerning the points raised by J.Ok. Rowling’s place worries me. Many in my neighborhood have self-censored out of concern and remained silenced.
Maybe now the media grandstanding by a bunch of attention-seeking wannabe “influencers” within the L.G.B.T.Q.+ communities will be parsed and a significant dialogue coping with organic girls’s wants can happen.
Sandra Langer
Queens
To the Editor:
Pamela Paul’s column concerning the trans rights controversy surrounding J.Ok. Rowling bought plenty of issues proper. Ms. Paul coated related information totally and concisely, however a crucial element was not explored.
As Ms. Paul’s column says, Ms. Rowling “has asserted the correct to areas for organic girls solely, comparable to home abuse shelters and sex-segregated prisons.” This stance successfully denies trans girls any entry to shelters for victims of home violence or rape, or to detention services that align with their presenting gender. Since nearly no trans-only areas exist, denying trans girls entry to already underfunded and scarce services that do exist leaves them in violent, life-threatening conditions with no recourse.
It’s doable that Ms. Rowling, Ms. Paul and others are unaware of simply how harmful it’s for a transgender girl to be housed with male prisoners, or how devastating it’s for a transgender particular person to be refused shelter from a violent residing scenario. These with extra privilege and entry should at all times search extra understanding of these totally different from ourselves earlier than advocating to disclaim their rights and entry to vital assets.
Dot Brauer
Williston, Vt.
The author is former director of the L.G.B.T.Q.A. Middle (now the Prism Middle) on the College of Vermont.
To the Editor:
I’m so glad somebody is addressing this challenge, and I need to thank each J.Ok. Rowling and Pamela Paul for his or her braveness. Crucial level for me was what the host of a podcast about Ms. Rowling mentioned: “Lots of people suppose that Rowling is utilizing her privilege to assault a weak group. However she sees herself as standing up for the rights of a weak group.”
I agree. I’ve supported trans rights for ages. I’ve an extremely expensive good friend who underwent the surgical procedure whom I’ve supported and cheered on all through her journey. However acknowledging a distinction can’t or shouldn’t be considered as fearful, unfair or hateful.
It’s unlucky that extra individuals don’t acknowledge that girls born biologically feminine have been and are nonetheless a marginalized group in and of themselves, and that when once more we’re underneath assault.
Jennifer Humeniuk
St. Catharines, Ontario
Supply: NY Times
