“I can’t understand the vitriol directed at her. I can understand the heat of an argument, but I find this age of accusation and the need to condemn irrational. I find the level of hatred that people express about views that differ from theirs, and the violence of language towards others, disturbing.”—Harry Potter film series actor Ralph Fiennes in a new interview with The Telegraph, defending author J.K. Rowling against allegations of transphobia. Over the past year, Rowling has propagated false and dangerous information about transgender people, compared being transgender to conversion therapy and defended other anti-transgender figures.
Selverd
Thank you.
DarkZephyr
Its the way he waves away her words as a “differing opinion”. Its dangerous and hateful vitriol. Its more than just a “different opinion”.
Dymension
I agree. The “woketevists” are out for blood. In no way shape or form is JK Rowling’s opinion policy. There used to be a saying during my time that “sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Unless she’s going out there and hurting trans people, it’s all talk. Get over it.
humble charlie
It’s best to stay out of this one and keep your opinion to yourselves.
Fahd
I’ll say here that I’ve never read any of her books – I’ve gifted one or two to young relatives, but nothing more. And I’m not a fan of his acting.
sfhairy
Sure Jan
jsmu
@sfhairy Marcia, Marcia, Marcia…will you ever learn to troll properly?
News flash, B*TCH: many of us would never read one word of Joke Terfling’s plagiarized, derivative, racist trash.
Jack Meoff
Spoken like a true straight white male who has never known bigotry in his life.
missvamp
exactly. he’s defending his paycheck. lame!!
Ken A.
He has suffered bigotry.
James (controversial2019)
His comment could equally have been about any of the users on here who are condemned, hated and accused, for differing opinions.
Cam
And by “Differing Opinions” You mean people who defend anti-LGBTQ politicians trying to harm us, or attacking LGBTQ victims of bigotry.
jsmu
What a LOAD.
arnieca
i wonder then how Mr. Fiennes feel about the level of violence and hatred expressed towards trans people? not just verbally, but physically and often fatally.
As another commenter noted, Fiennes may just be thinking of his own self interest here. He sure isn’t thinking about Rowling’s victims.
sfhairy
But none of that is caused by JK Rowling.
Selverd
He hasn’t been involved in that franchise for a decade now.
barryaksarben
whoever said none of the violece was caused by Rowling is being obtuse. OF COURSE some was because of her stance. Dont be so stupid
sfhairy
Exaclty.
wooly101
It’s amazing how all the victims pop up when there is a difference of opinion. If they can’t argue the point, they turn on the faacets and start to wine.
leo1008
There is nothing “ugh” about that comment from Ralph Fiennes. I would add that his identity is not important. What matters is the idea that he expresses. That’s the kind of idea that we all need to focus on. He’s very clearly saying that all people should have the space to express their views without receiving the kind of over-the-top hatred that Rowling has received. This premise of free speech in a civil society is, in fact, what gives all of us the right to disagree with Rowling (if we so choose). By extending civility towards her, we are extending it towards others as well: including ourselves and people we might be more inclined to agree with. After all, the solution for speech that we don’t like is always more speech. The solution is never to try and silence others: that kind of approach is dangerously likely to catch up with our own speech eventually. So, I would like to hear from whoever posted this article why on Earth they think it’s “ugh” when someone like Fiennes expresses a common sense idea that is central to a liberal democracy.
Liquid Silver
“Shut up you hater” that’s why. 🙂 There will be ONLY ONE opinion in this democracy and it will be THIS ONE.
It’s why neither the far left nor far right particularly impress me with their absolutism. Nor can either consider science if it doesn’t exactly lock-step with their opinions, it must be thrown out.
Ken A.
You sir are correct.
Dan
1,000% couldn’t say this better.
Cam
Being “Civil” to bigots, racists, and homophobes held back civil rights advancements for a long time.
It was making racists into pariahs that helped get civil rights legislation passed. Remember, politicians used to campaign AS members of the KKK openly years ago. Those folks got attacked and by the 60s and 70s we had progress.
With LGBTQ people, we had people in power telling us to shut up and sit down and there would be no movement of LGBTQ causes. People marched, did sit ins, etc. and DADT was erased, DOMA was struck down and networks were attacked for having homophobes on.
No, being “Civil” to people trying to harm you benefits them, not you. What people are trying to do is pretend that hateful, racist and bigoted views are not treated any differently than somebody’s opinion about their favorite flavor of ice-cream.
jsmu
Drivel!
Terfling is free to be an anti-trans Qunt and we’re free to call her out on that behavior. No harm, no foul. It’s called freedom. 😀
Openminded
Leo, you put it perfectly. One doesn’t have to like JKRowling, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t due her own opinion. Also doesn’t mean anyone has to respect her opinion.
Liquid Silver
Uh…yeah, I’m not seeing the problem here either?
LeBlevsez
The “ugh” was for his defense of bigotry.
pym_sd
REMINDER : being racist or transphobic or homophobic isn’t a difference of opinion … a différence of opinion is what u think of Wonder Woman 1984 !!
Masquerading hate as difference of opinion is unacceptable !
Ken A.
Yes it is. It’s the violence physical that I oppose. Words meh
curiobi
Trans people are a very vulnerable marginalised group. When you are as famous as JK you have to know the damage your comments can cause. When you are a writer it is even worse because you know the power of words, you have used the power of words to make yourself a millionaire.
I still can’t understand why she chose this particular course of action, what purpose does it serve? Especially since when you look at her comments she doesn’t even seem to be talking about actual trans women, she seems to be talking about straight man, pretending to be trans to invade women only spaces with the intention of causing harm.
That description literally does not apply to any trans woman, and I can’t really understand what point she’s even making here because how many cases are there of straight men dressing up as women to abuse women? Not very many I would wager, she can’t pretend this is a serious issue she just has to address. I just don’t understand her…
Women’s safety is a serious issue and should be taken seriously, but in this case I just don’t understand who JK is claiming is the threat, how many dangerous fake trans women are there really? What is she even talking about?
hugglepuffle
I agree with him to a certain extend, like the JK hate and people trying to boycott Harry Potter is too much, I disagree with what she said but that’s her opinion
Cam
So she can have her opinion but other people are not allowed to have their opinions that disagree with hers and they are not allowed to decide they don’t want to financially support her. Ok.
Ronbo
Simmer down Cam, that is not what Fiennes said at all.
jsmu
Nope. Terfling deliberately smeared her shite all over social media. If she is free to do that, we’re free to boycott and criticize her. FREE MARKET, FREE SPEECH, idiot!
Dan
The only “ugh” here is the senseless post in the first place. JK Rowling is a person too, and just like anyone else she has a view. She may not have expressed something we all agree with, but she’s not out here instigating hate against, or personally attacking people. However, that’s exactly what most people are doing to her. It’s so negative, so toxic, and so immature. That’s what’s truly “ugh”.
DarkZephyr
How can you just wave away her words and influence as “just an opinion”? “Opinions” actually have consequences and they motivate action and lack of action. The “opinion” that same sex couples don’t deserve the right to marry motivated a LOT of people in the USA to vote against marriage equality. It motivates a LOT of people to HARM gay people. Sure, Rowling might not be throwing the punches, firing the bullets or twisting the knives herself, but she has a LOT of influence on others. Her words lead to actions and attitudes from other people. How can you defend that? Do you have such little regard for the lives of trans people?
James (controversial2019)
Having read what Rowling has said, it seems she’s simply one of those who goes with science rather than society; in the same way as people do with the creation of the universe.
People who go with science say it was the big bang and evolution.
People who go with society (religion) say it was a deity.
Whilst people disagree with each other on the above they don’t start petitions or (reasonably) have hatred for those who have a different opinion.
Rowling goes with science in that she believes to be a woman you need XX chromosomes.
Society, increasingly, is accepting self-identification as being sufficient for ones gender.
It is unreasonable for people to have some much hatred for someone who goes with science rather than society.
However, I think the easiest thing to do would be to remember that sex and gender are entirely different.
Your sex (male/female) is not changeable. Your sex IS based on being XX or XY (or other less-common sexes).
Your gender identity (man/woman) is changeable. You can know that you were born into the wrong body type. You can know that your spirit does not fit with the body you were born into it.
That is why, I feel, it must be that one is transgender but never transsexual as one cannot change their sex.
If, for example, I became trans, I would be a male straight woman. My sex does not/cannot change (male), my sexuality is whatever my sexuality is (straight), my gender identity is whatever my gender identity is (woman).
I therefore whole heartedly support trans women and trans men who call themselves trans women and trans men. But, in my opinion, one cannot call themselves trans male/trans female as ones sex (chromosomes) cannot change,
Rowling’s statement, therefore, about “people who menstruate” SHOULD have been “there used to be a word for those…females”. But she (in my opinion) erroneously used women; but that, to me, is because society these days is using the two terms (female/women) interchangeably and they’re not the same: females menstruate. Women, may not.
Cam
So now we see why you posted earlier crying about people not being upset over “different opinions”.
We get it, all of you troll accounts seem to hate Trans people even more than you hate racial minorities. You can say things as calmly as possible or try to claim you are using science, but that is the same argument that was used against gays and lesbians…..”They can’t have kids, therefore scientifically nature would never produce them, they’ve chosen this and they are wrong”.
But once again, it’s adorable that you think changing up the delivery of your trolling hides you.
James (controversial2019)
@Cam
You make me laugh.
You don’t actually read posts in full do you? You get to a line you dislike and then you stop absorbing the rest. Of course you ignore:
“ Your gender identity (man/woman) is changeable. You can know that you were born into the wrong body type. You can know that your spirit does not fit with the body you were born into it.” —- which is clearly an acceptance and respect for trans individuals. I did’t say “You can believe…” or “you can think…”. I said “You can know”, because I wholeheartedly accept that individuals knows they were born into the wrong body.
“ I therefore whole heartedly support trans women and trans men who call themselves trans women and trans men. But, in my opinion, one cannot call themselves trans male/trans female as ones sex (chromosomes) cannot change” —- which clearly shows support of trans individuals
Instead, you read that, in my view, “female” and “woman” aka “sex” and “gender” are different and then stop reading the rest.
You’re so tired and boring – I get the impression that you’re later on in your years and (unfortunately) had to remain closeted for much of your life due to your sexuality (stupidly and immorally) being illegal. And that resentment for such damaging and stifling laws means that if anyone has an LGBTQ view you disagree with, you get thrown back into the “you can’t be you” mindset and therefore lash out.
We all feel sorry for you Cam, don’t worry x
Cam
@JAmes (Controversial2019)
Still trying to pretend you aren’t the same old troll but resort to the same old responses.
So you “Support” trans people, but don’t believe that they are who they say they are.
Kind of like the right wing evangelicals that try to pass laws harming LGBTQ people and say the love the sinner but hate the sin.
Your problem is that your troll game is sad and weak.
James (controversial2019)
@Cam
As per usual, you still take a swing and a miss with all your accusations. You poor love.
As per usual, you still avoid the most obvious parts of someone’s post. You poor love.
Again:
“Your gender identity (man/woman) is changeable. You can know that you were born into the wrong body type. You can know that your spirit does not fit with the body you were born into it.” —- how does that show anything BUT believing they are who they say they are?
Do everyone a favour babe, read before you post; you’re just making a fool of yourself. If you need us to use simpler words for you to understand, we are happy to do so 🙂
Cam
@James (controversial2019)
Sweetie, it’s cute that you keep trying to post that they can’t change and when you get called out you keep backing off or minimizing what you said.
We get it, you’re fine with what JK Rowling said and your happy that Fines supported her.
DarkZephyr
“Having read what Rowling has said, it seems she’s simply one of those who goes with science rather than society”
This is what you’re going with is it? She’s “simply going with science rather than society”. You get that homophobes have claimed for decades untold that “science” shows that two same sex bodies are sexually incompatible and don’t have the “right parts”, right? This has been second only to religion as an excuse to justify anti-gay hatred, violence and legislative oppression.
And before you accuse me of having not read your whole post or only focusing on one thing, I have read the whole thing. I saw your amazing “support” of trans people while saying that if you ever transitioned, you would be a “male woman”. Are you kidding me? You know damned well that this is not how trans people identify or see themselves even remotely. It smacks of terms like “she-male” or “he-she” which are abhorrently insulting to most trans people and are often flung at them when brutal violence is being done to them.
Also, most trans people do not deny the difference between sex and gender and the way you and especially JK Rowling carry on suggests that they do. They know the difference between biological sex and gender and that *biological* sex cannot be changed. They don’t have to call themselves “male women” or “female men” to acknowledge that.
I will definitely have to disagree with you about physical sex and transsexuals however. I believe that physical sex can be changed through surgery.
jsmu
Homophobe/transphobe/bigot/fake ‘science’ defender says what?
Cam
So then you do care. If you didn’t you wouldn’t have thought about it that much.
Leash
You say you don’t care about how someone identifies, but you seem to care ALOT when it comes to telling transgender people that they are not “real” women/men because of biology. Why? Do you enjoy hurting people? You’d keep that sh*t to yourself if you really don’t care. DNA isn’t everything. Let people be FFS.
Leash
@Dymension Almost every opinion is political. Telling people to “get over it” is easy if it doesn’t affect you. Words lead to actions. JK doesn’t need to go out there and kill transgender herself, others already do that.
renzinthewoods
I’m sorry but the Neo Trans movement is out of control, I stand with JK Rowling and with biological women and feminists who see aggressive, woke, trans women who lived previously as men and in patriarchal fashion are demanding totally equality in previously female only spaces. Trans women are real trans women and they deserve to be left alone to live their lives. However, biological women have a right to biological female space…separate from trans women and their previously “male” existences. If that makes me a TERF…proud to wear that label for my “cisters.”
DarkZephyr
@renzinthewoods
You clearly don’t grasp what being trans is at all if this is your thoughts on it. Trans women never lived a “previously male existence” any more than you lived a “previously heterosexual existence” if you were ever in the closet. How you can conflate being in the closet with actually being other than what you really are is bonkers to me. But go ahead and cozy up with your monstrous TERF “cisters”. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
tjack47
People are whom they tell me they are. I do believe wholeheartedly that people of different genders frighten some heterosexual people to their very core. I see it as them, they are the ones with an identity crisis. Certainly a woman of such privilege given a golden bullhorn can undo progress and increase danger for people who are transgender, queer, nonbinary, etc. He is her friend, or acquaintance. He knows her in a different context, personally. It’s not surprising he comes to her defense. How chivalrous of him. Other, forgive him, for he knows not of what he speaks.
darklight413
He should just STFU!
Ally
This will be my only post before departing the site.
I am/was James (controversial2019). Fifteen minutes ago I tried to log in to reply to DarkZephyr, however my account seems to have been deleted. I subsequently created this account in order to post this message.
I am disappointed to be departing the site.
I came here to keep up w/ LGBTQ+ news as I’ve not found another place with such variety.
I am a genuine, bi-racial gay male who has (until now) only ever had one account; controversial2019.
Whilst this site posts plenty of articles I “side” with, naturally there are articles where I do not agree with the general consensus. I think this is normal in life; we can’t all agree on the same things.
I have, however, always strived to explain my disagreements in a polite, understanding and sensitive nature, always giving reasons for my disagreement. This is my way of giving opinion offline, and therefore I mirrored it online.
To date, I do not feel I have said anything abusive, or offensive. However, the deletion of my account would indicate some(one) took offence by something I said and, whilst I find the timing odd (I’ve recently reported Cam for his posts), as Queerty moderators have deemed me to be inappropriate, I must accept/own that.
I could, as I have here, create another account and continue posting, however given I would continue to have the same opinions I have previously posted about, and given that some(one) took offence by my post(s), to stay on would potentially cause offence in the future and as that has never been my intention (contrary to some accusations), I would not wish to risk offending anyone further.
I would please ask that in future, people be considerate of different opinions and disagree with contrasting opinions respectively. The way DarkZephyr disagreed with my post above, I feel, was respectful and well-written. I think DarkZephyr could/should be an example to all users as to how to express disagreements, rather than simply name-calling and attacking users about whom you will know very little; thank you DarkZephyr.
Our LGBTQ+ community is growing daily, and one day, we will all be treated as equals.
Openminded
Sorry to see you go James. I have always appreciated your honest and intelligent opinions in your posts. I hope you will reconsider your decision to leave as I can’t imagine the mods booting you for anything I have read that you posted. I’ve posted some straight forward crap back at CAM and to date have not received any flack from the mods. I may get booted tomorrow, but if so, it will be with no regrets and the knowledge that I stated my true opinion and was only looking for thoughtful debate on issues that are important to many people. It is sad that so many here believe you must follow lock step with their ideas or you are deemed human trash. Ironic to get treatment like this from a group that has historically demanded to be heard, understood, and respected.
Leash
Bye pumpkin Byyye pumpkin
Ronbo
Yes. There are people here who are attacking Fiennes for saying…
” I find the level of hatred that people express about views that differ from theirs, and the violence of language towards others, disturbing.”
I wish the editors would stick to actual quotes from JKR. Instead, they post analysis and personal attacks. Post JKR’s actual words and the controversy disappears. (but that wouldn’t be the clickbait they desire)
inbama
Rowling’s often-repeated quote in defense of a feminist who was fired for stating that there were two biological sexes (which is true) was:
“Dress however you please.
Call yourself whatever you like.
Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.
Live your best life in peace and security.
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?”