JK Rowling has challenged Scotland’s new hate crime law in a series of social media posts - inviting police to arrest her if they believe she has committed an offence.

The Harry Potter author, who lives in Edinburgh, described several transgender women as men, including convicted prisoners, trans activists and other public figures.

She said “freedom of speech and belief” was at an end if accurate description of biological sex was outlawed.

Earlier, Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf said the new law would deal with a “rising tide of hatred”.

The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 creates a new crime of “stirring up hatred” relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex.

Ms Rowling, who has long been a critic of some trans activism, posted on X on the day the new legislation came into force.

  • Flying Squid
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    48 months ago

    It confuses me to no end that my very girly oldest child identifies male, especially since hearing them talk about it, it seems more a rejection of being seen as a sexual object than any desire to be a man.

    Even psychiatrists don’t psychoanalyze their own children.

    Maybe instead of hearing your child talk about it, talk to your child about it. Children aren’t clay that you stick in a you-shaped mold and expect them to come out no different from you.

    Maybe your “very girly” oldest child identifies as male because that’s what they consider themselves to be and your definition of “very girly” isn’t the same as theirs.

    Do you self-identify as male? Do you wear any colors other than grey? Congratulations, you’re “very girly” according to the first half of the 20th century.

    • @AnalogyAddict
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      18 months ago

      What makes you think I haven’t done such an obvious thing as to talk with my kid about it?

      Good grief.

      Put down the pitchfork.

      • Flying Squid
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        68 months ago

        Because you said “it seems” which suggests you are guessing but don’t actually know.

        And also because you think your own biased view of what is “very girly” has something to do with your child’s gender identity.

        So maybe you have talked to them about it, I don’t know, but it doesn’t sound like you listened.

        I mean this alone-

        Even if it breaks my old person brain a little.

        It should no more break your old person brain any more than it should finding out your child is not heterosexual. If it is breaking your brain, you need to check your prejudices.

        I’m glad your wouldn’t do anything about a child’s self-defined gender, but you still need to look at what you’re saying and how you’re judging.

        • @AnalogyAddict
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          8 months ago

          Reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit is it? Either that, or you’re just a bit histrionic. Either way, trying to attack me and call me prejudiced when you’ve judged me with very little logic or basic understanding is pretty rich.

          Move on, cowboy. You can’t shame or intimidate me when you grasp so little about my situation. Bullying is not the way to get people to re-examine themselves, even if it is their best path forward.