J.K. Rowling Slams Men 'Policing' Women's Trans Comments

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has continued the debate surrounding recent comments by singer Macy Gray regarding trans women, slamming men who she said are "policing" women's speech.

Last week, Gray made controversial comments regarding the definition of a woman, something which Rowling has also been accused of in the past. During an interview with Piers Morgan, Gray said, "And I will say this, and everybody's gonna hate me, but as a woman, just because you go change your parts doesn't make you a woman. Sorry."

Gray apologized for her comments during an appearance on NBC's Today Show. ""I said some things that didn't go over well, but my intention was never to hurt anybody. I feel bad that I did hurt some people," she said.

Gray was getting criticized and verbally abused for changing her mind by people on Twitter, which prompted Rowling to leap to her defense.

Comparing Gray's online abuse to her own experiences, Rowling wrote on Sunday, "Endless death and rape threats, threats of loss of livelihood, employers targeted, physical harassment, family address posted online with picture of bomb-making manual aren't 'mean comments'." She continued, "If you don't yet understand what happens to women who stand up on this issue, back off."

Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, a satirical Christian news website continued the debate with Rowling. He said that the comments were beyond "mean" but suggested people criticizing Gray were also backing Rowling for having "a backbone."

"I'm not there for men calling women cowards when they never have to face this stuff themselves," Rowling replied, "nor am I OK with white guys publicly telling black women how to comport themselves. Men whose default is policing women's speech and actions are not allies."

She continued her stance on this subject on Monday morning, once again addressing men who suggest she should side with those criticizing Gray into changing her stance on the definition of a woman.

"Men in my mentions telling me I should support the bullying of other women into the 'correct' position: you're advocating that I become what I hate. Those are the tactics of the misogynist movement women are currently fighting."

She continued in a follow-up tweet, "If your sole contribution to the discussion on the erosion of women's rights is to wade in and start haranguing and lecturing women on how to behave and think, you've got far more in common with what I'm standing against than you have with me."

Rowling revealed the extent of the hate she's received online recently. On July 1 she shared a screenshot of a tweet that showed her family's address, next to a picture of Rowling, a pipe bomb and a bomb-making handbook.

Matt Walsh, a self-proclaimed "theocratic fascist" replied to Rowling's tweet. He praised her courage for her take on trans issues in the past, he called out people who have "simply caved to the demands of trans activists and completely surrendered truth and reality to them."

Rowling agreed to an extent but explained where she drew the line. "Many institutions I used to admire have uncritically embraced this dogma, but I reserve my ire for them rather than shouting 'coward' at individual women."

Opinions of Rowling, famed author of the Harry Potter books and the Fantastic Beasts movie series, seems to have changed in recent years. She has been grouped in the same conversation as the likes of Dave Chappelle and The Handmaid's Tale author Magaret Atwood, who have faced their own criticism for their perceived stance on the trans community.

Newsweek has reached out to Rowling for further comment.